The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has recovered over Ksh 39 million in unlawfully acquired allowances from two officials of the National Treasury, following a High Court ruling that marks a significant victory in the fight against corruption.
In a judgment delivered on June 4, 2025, by Hon. Lady Justice L.M. Njuguna of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Division of the High Court in Nairobi, the court found that Robert Theuri Murage and Doris Nafula Simiyu fraudulently received public funds through unauthorized and excessive allowances between January 2020 and June 2022.
According to the EACC, the payments, disguised as task force, extraneous, entertainment, facilitation, and other vague allowances, were made without approval from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), in clear violation of Article 230 of the Constitution. The court determined that the two officials knowingly exploited outdated or revoked government circulars to siphon public funds.
Robert Theuri Murage was ordered to repay a total of Ksh 20,318,000. Of this, Ksh 11,078,601 held in his Equity Bank account will be forfeited to the state, while the remaining Ksh 9,239,398.17 must be settled in cash. Doris Nafula Simiyu was similarly directed to return Ksh 18,862,000, with Ksh 8,953,988.74 already preserved in her National Bank account forfeited, and the balance of Ksh 9,908,011.26 to be repaid in cash.
The recovery stems from investigations launched by EACC in July 2022, after reports surfaced of irregular financial practices within the National Treasury. The Commission hailed the ruling as a critical step toward holding public officers accountable and safeguarding taxpayers’ money.
“This judgment sends a clear message that no public officer is above the law, and those who misuse public resources will face legal consequences,” the EACC said in a statement.
The case underscores the EACC’s ongoing efforts to recover stolen funds and promote transparency and integrity within government institutions.
Written By Rodney Mbua
