The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has formally taken over investigations into the suspected Sh6.2 billion payroll fraud in the public service, following the handover of audit and forensic reports by the Ministry of Public Service.
Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku and Principal Secretary Jane Imbunya on Wednesday said they submitted the payroll system audit, 14 forensic audit reports and supporting documentation to the DCI to pave the way for criminal investigations into widespread payroll irregularities uncovered across government.
CS Ruku hands Sh6.2bn payroll audit to DCI for investigations
The handover follows a government payroll audit that found suspected irregularities in a sample of 12 of the country’s 53 State departments, pointing to potential losses of Sh6.2 billion through manipulated payroll records, irregular salary payments and weak payroll controls.
“As part of the implementation process, I have today formally handed over the payroll audit documents to the Director General of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations,” Mr Ruku said following a meeting with the DCI boss, Mohamed Amin, in Nairobi.
“This marks the commencement of the investigative process on matters requiring criminal investigation as identified in the audit findings.”
The CS said allegations of fraud, abuse of office or financial impropriety would be investigated “independently and professionally,” and called on State offices and county governments to cooperate with investigators.
The investigation comes after the Cabinet, chaired by President William Ruto last week, directed the DCI to probe the suspected fraud.
Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters in Kiambu Road, Nairobi pictured on March 28, 2024.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation
The audit uncovered unauthorised alterations to payroll records, irregular salary payments, weak controls over statutory deductions, fragmented payroll management systems and significant oversight gaps.
The Cabinet directed investigators to verify personal numbers used in payroll processing, dismantle criminal networks manipulating government payroll systems, recover lost public funds and ensure the arrest and prosecution of those found culpable.
Mr Ruku has previously raised the alarm over cases of job group manipulation, where civil servants are irregularly promoted or placed in higher salary grades within short periods without following due process.
He has also said “hundreds of civil servants” are under investigation over widespread malpractice, collusion and systemic abuse aimed at siphoning public funds.
The payroll audit traces its origins to December 2025, when the government established a multi-agency team led by the National Intelligence Service to conduct a forensic review based on findings by the Auditor General.
The Auditor-General and the Controller of Budget have long raised concerns over Kenya’s rising public wage bill and persistent weaknesses in payroll management.
In her latest report for the financial year ended June 2025, Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu also flagged cases in county governments where some employees were irregularly earning salaries and disability-related allowances despite not qualifying for the benefits or having already retired.
