Government Cracks Down on Payroll Fraud in Public Service

The government has raised alarms over rising payroll fraud in the public service. Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Geoffrey Ruku spoke at the 6th Certified Human Resource Professionals (CHRP) Ceremony at the Nairobi Expo Dome. He warned that HR officers involved in malpractice will face strict disciplinary action.

Ruku revealed some officers collude with employees to change job groups without Public Service Commission (PSC) approval. These actions have caused huge financial losses. “We face serious human resource challenges. Some employees fail to report on time. Others manipulate payroll records without authorization,” he said.

The CS condemned such acts as corruption and abuse of office. He urged HR officers to uphold integrity, accountability and professionalism. “Ethical HR practices,” he added, “are key to transparency and efficiency in government institutions.”

During the event, 1,130 HR professionals were officially certified under the CHRP programme. The programme is administered by the Human Resource Management Professionals Examination Board (HRMPEB). Ruku said ongoing reforms, including payroll automation and stricter monitoring, will curb fraud and improve service delivery.

He called on HR officers to lead by example. Their actions influence the culture of honesty in the civil service. “Your professionalism sets the standard for the institutions you serve,” he said.

The ceremony gathered government officials, HR practitioners and representatives from the Institute of Human Resource Management (IHRM). It highlighted the importance of ethical leadership in both public and private sectors. Ruku emphasized that failure to follow rules will attract consequences.

The government will now focus on stronger oversight, compliance and accountability. HR officers are expected to safeguard taxpayer funds and maintain public trust.

The CHRP event celebrated new HR professionals while sending a clear warning: integrity and ethical conduct are non-negotiable. “The reforms and vigilance,”  the CS noted, “are critical to building a reliable and transparent public service.”

With these measures, the government hopes to strengthen human resource management and curb malpractice, ensuring that employees and officers operate within the law.