The Kisii County Government is being investigated by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for alleged insurance fraud and staff number inflation.
This follows Governor Simba Arati’s claim that the county government employed ghost workers.
Kisii County Government, according to Arati, has 82 vehicles, but there are 256 drivers on the payroll.
The governor also claimed that some of the vehicles were listed as fully insured but had third-party insurance stickers.
Following the revelations, the EACC has stated that it has begun an investigation into allegations of fraud in the Kisii County Government.
“The EACC has taken note of the serious allegations of ghost workers and fraud in the procurement of motor vehicle insurance in Kisii County and has taken up the matter for investigations. Persons found culpable will be dealt with in accordance with the law,” EACC Chief Executive Officer Twalib Mbarak said in a statement dated Thursday, September 1.
“The commission expects the governors to strengthen internal controls in public procurement, capital project management, staff recruitment and payment of pending bills. These are some of the high corruption risk areas,” said Mbarak.
Arati claimed that the ghost drivers were receiving salaries from the county’s government that were intended for development projects and other services in the country.
The governor also warned the county assembly officers who have hidden the county vehicles in their homes to return them with immediate effect and face arrest.
