Fresh concerns have emerged within government after a recent audit exposed a long-running pattern of fraud in public offices, where employees manipulated personal files, academic papers and payroll systems to stay in service and earn unlawful benefits.
The Ministry of Public Service said the findings show deep collusion and a network that enabled civil servants to cheat retirement, receive double payments, and secure positions using forged certificates.
The revelations were shared during the 29th Annual National Human Resource Management Conference in Naivasha on Thursday, where Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku outlined how the review cut across national and county departments.
He said investigators found officers who should have exited public service but continued working after altering their dates of birth, while others accessed allowances and tax benefits that they were not entitled to.
“An audit across all government agencies established that hundreds of workers were using falsified academic documents to secure promotions,” he said.
According to Ruku, the scheme was not limited to junior staff, as senior officials worked with them to change files and payroll records, protecting illegal earnings and enabling fake promotions.
He said taxpayers have lost billions of shillings through these acts, which he described as a betrayal of public trust and a threat to honest workers.
“We have reports that other workers are earning double allowances and others have been exempted from taxes, and this is costing the government billions of shillings,” he said.
Ruku announced that the Ministry is working closely with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and other agencies to ensure every case is followed through to conclusion.
He said any officer implicated will be dismissed and taken to court after evidence is compiled.
“We have introduced an App that captures all work situations in government agencies, and this will come in handy in addressing the current mess,” he said.
He said human resource officers must strictly follow employment, promotion and payment procedures to avoid situations where bribery and favoritism influence hiring and advancement. He warned that bending rules compromises fairness and integrity in government institutions.
“Deviations from approved systems undermine professionalism and create opportunities for corruption and nepotism. HR officers must serve as custodians of integrity and accountability,” Ruku said.
The audit also showed cases where job seekers paid bribes for government jobs, aided by HR officers who altered files and forged qualifications. Ruku said this has damaged the credibility of public recruitment and denied qualified youth the chance to secure employment on merit.
“The audit uncovered systemic collusion between some HR officers and job seekers involving the sale of employment opportunities and falsification of academic credentials. This behaviour undermines service delivery, erodes public trust, and costs our economy billions,” he said.
He affirmed that officers found guilty will be struck off the HR register and permanently blocked from practicing. He also called on all public entities to use the Unified Human Resources Information System fully to curb manipulation.
“Let me be clear, the era of impunity is over. We are working with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Institute of Human Resource Management (IHRM) to ensure those who have commercialised recruitment are punished,” he said.
“We have partnered with the Institute of Human Resource Management to work with us in addressing challenges in the government as one way of improving service delivery,” he said.
