A growing number of public servants are facing scrutiny over their wealth after the Public Service Commission (PSC) forwarded 52 asset declaration records to investigators in the year ending June 2025.
The referrals mark a sharp 62.5 percent increase compared to the 32 cases sent for investigation the previous year, pointing to rising concerns over possible unexplained wealth within government ranks.
The commission requires public officers to declare their income, assets and liabilities after every two years as part of rules aimed at promoting transparency in public service.
These declarations are reviewed to identify unusual changes in financial status among officers working across government institutions.
When the commission notices abnormal increases in assets during the review of financial disclosures, it prepares the necessary documents and sends the declaration records to relevant investigative agencies for further examination.
The increase in the number of cases forwarded to investigators highlights growing financial warning signs within the public service and raises questions about accountability in offices responsible for managing public resources.
“During the period, 52 representation letters for officers under investigation were prepared, and corresponding Board reports were developed to support approval and release of records,” says the commission in its latest annual report.
“Consequently, 52 declaration forms were transmitted to investigative bodies including the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Kenya Revenue Authority, Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Asset Recovery Agency)— in the 2024/25 financial year.”
The rise in referrals comes at a time when authorities are under pressure to strengthen the fight against corruption and deal with cases where public officials accumulate wealth that cannot easily be explained.
Kenyan law requires public officers to periodically disclose details of their income, assets and liabilities under the Public Officer Ethics Act. The measure is meant to improve openness in public service and help prevent illegal enrichment.
The declarations go beyond the individual officer and also capture property linked to their spouse and dependent children below the age of 18. This allows oversight bodies to monitor patterns of wealth accumulation and identify possible conflicts of interest.
Public servants must submit their declarations within one month after joining the public service, every two years while serving, and again within 30 days after leaving office.
However, the level of compliance differs across the public service depending on the stage at which officers are expected to submit their financial disclosures.
