The Directorate of Criminal Investigation has arrested two top human resource officials from the Nyamira county government for employing ghost workers.
According to Nyamira South Sub County Criminal Investigations Officer Paul Makonge, the officials were arrested after investigations revealed that they had employed close family members who continued to draw huge salaries from the devolved unit since June 2021 without reporting for duty for a single day.
“The suspects work in the human resources department, where staff files are done and payroll is processed that’s why we believe they were involved in enlisting ghost workers,” Mr. Makonge said.
The arrests follow complaints by Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo, who previously revealed that ghost workers had been fleecing the local government of millions of shillings and undermining taxpayer services for several years.
Mr Makonge stated that the police are looking for a third employee, a support staff member in the same human resource department.
“The suspects employed at least two people. One is an engineer while the other is a senior inspector in the Environment and Lands department,” added Mr. Makonge.
He added that the HR officers forged documents from the County Public Service Board in order to justify the fake employment of the two senior officers.
According to Mr. Makonge, the two fake employees will also be arrested to face criminal charges.
