Fresh concerns have emerged over the management of public funds after a new media investigation uncovered alleged financial irregularities within the Kenya Prisons Service.
The latest findings come only days after the country was shaken by reports of a Ksh 6.2 billion payroll fraud that came to light following a State House directive ordering the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to review the public payroll database.
The new investigation shifts attention to the Kenya Prisons Service, where rogue officers are alleged to have exploited weaknesses in payroll systems and transfer allowance payments to siphon billions of shillings.
The claims have raised serious questions about financial controls, accountability, and oversight within one of the country’s key security institutions.
According to the investigation, the alleged fraud involved manipulation of payroll records and questionable transfer allowances, allowing some individuals to benefit unlawfully while genuine employees continued to struggle.
The findings suggest that weaknesses in internal systems may have gone unnoticed for years, creating room for abuse.
One of the most disturbing revelations is that several healthcare workers serving within the Kenya Prisons Service have reportedly gone without salaries for more than 16 years.
The report paints a worrying picture of workers who continued offering essential medical services despite not receiving their rightful pay, highlighting what has been described as years of administrative failure and neglect.
The latest claims have added to growing concerns about the effectiveness of payroll management across government institutions. While efforts are already underway to identify ghost workers, freeze suspicious bank accounts, and strengthen public payroll systems, the new allegations suggest that deeper structural problems may still exist in some departments.
The developments have also increased pressure on accounting officers, internal auditors, and other oversight bodies to speed up ongoing payroll verification and financial audits across government. Many Kenyans are questioning how large sums of public money can allegedly disappear through fraudulent schemes while legitimate public servants reportedly remain unpaid for years.
There are growing calls for stronger accountability, improved payroll management systems, and greater transparency in the handling of public resources.
The outcome of the ongoing inquiries is expected to shape future reforms aimed at protecting public funds, closing loopholes that enable fraud, and ensuring that genuine government employees receive their salaries and allowances without unnecessary delays.
