The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has released the findings of an investigation into the fraudulent acquisition of public funds by officials of Kenya’s National Museums via salaries and gratuities paid to ghost workers.
EACC revealed in a Gazette Notice dated Friday, August 11, that they began investigations after Kenyans of Goodwill reported that officers at the organization had added ghost workers to the payroll.
According to the whistleblowers, between May 2016 and April 2022, several ghost workers were included in the salary payment system, earning nearly Ksh100,000 each.
“Investigations established that the NMK payroll had 105 ghost workers included between the years 2016 and 2022. The ghost workers were paid a gross salary ranging between Ksh88,000 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 Museums of Kenya,” reads the EACC report.
Investigators established that the rogue managers had added 105 ghost workers who were paid cumulative totals of Ksh491,405,413 as salaries for that period.
“The ghost workers would be given a token of appreciation of between Ksh100,000.00 and Ksh200,000.00 from the loan money,” read the report.
EACC also revealed that the managers obtained loans from a local bank while posing as ghost workers, prompting the financial institution to raise the alarm.
The report, which was sent to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on May 5, suggested that the suspects be charged with six counts of unlawful acquisition of public property under Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
