Kenya's Cabinet has directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to examine suspected irregularities totaling KSh6.2 billion in the public payroll. The order came during a meeting chaired by President William Ruto on June 30.
The directive targets manipulation of payroll systems, unauthorised record changes, and irregular payments across ministries, departments, agencies, and state corporations. A sample audit of 12 out of 53 state departments uncovered the KSh6.2 billion in suspected irregularities, including weak controls over statutory deductions.
The Cabinet dispatch instructed the DCI to verify personal numbers in payroll processing, dismantle criminal networks, recover lost public funds, and arrest those found culpable. It also called for immediate prosecution under the law.
In parallel, the Cabinet ordered a nationwide audit of remaining institutions and the migration of all government entities to the revamped Integrated Human Resource and Payroll System to strengthen oversight.
