Over Ksh491 million paid out in six years

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has mounted an inquiry into allegations of fraudulent acquisation of public funds by officials of the National Museums of Kenya through salaries and gratuity paid to ghost workers.

The Commission commenced investigations following a report received that officers at the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) had added ghost workers in the payroll between May 2016 and April 2022.

105 ‘Ghost Workers’ paid Ksh 88,000 to Ksh 95,000 plus gratuity

Investigations established that the National Museums of Kenya payroll had 105 ghost workers included between the years 2016 and 2022. The ghost workers were paid gross salary ranging between KSh 88,000 and KSh95,000 and gratuity at the rate of 31 percent of the annual basic pay.

Investigations further established that the ghost workers would retain a percentage of the salaries received and remit the balance to officers at the National Museum of Kenya. The 105 ghost workers were paid cumulative totals of KSh 491,405,413 as salaries for the period.

Loans paid to National Museum of Kenya officials

Additionally, the ghost workers were made to obtain loan facilities at a specified KCB bank branch and later submit the loan amounts to the NMK officials. The ghost workers would be given a token of appreciation of between KSh100,000 and KSh. 200,000 from the loan money.

A report was compiled and forwarded to the DPP on 5th May, 2023 recommending that the suspects be charged with:

• Six counts of unlawful acquisition of public property Contrary to section 45 (1) (a)
  as read with section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes
  Act
• Two counts of conspiracy to commit an offence of economic crime contrary to section 47A (3) as read with section 48 of Anti- Corruption and Economic Crimes Act No.3 of 2003
• Two counts of abuse of office contrary to section 46 all as read with section 48 of ACECA
• Two counts of acquisition of proceeds of crime contrary to section 4 as read with section 16 of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2009
• One count of money laundering contrary to section 3 (a) as read with section 16 of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2009
• And two counts of Financial Misconduct contrary to section 197 (1) (i) as read with section 199 of the Public Finance Management Act, 2012.

The DPP’s response is awaited

[Source: The Kenya Gazette EACC/FI/INQ/40/2021]