Ruto Fires Over 60 Govt Employees

President William Ruto’s Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, has approved the suspension of six Chief Executive Officers accused of corruption.

In a statement released by State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed, Koskei accused the six of procurement irregularities.

He also suspended an accountant at the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERRA) and directed Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome to take similar action against 67 police officers implicated in corruption-related malpractices. 

“The directives follow recommendations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for the suspension of the officers, who are currently under investigation,” the statement read. 

“The Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service emphasises that the government remains firm in its commitment to eradicating corruption which, he maintains, undermines its development agenda,” State House added. 

The EACC wrote to several Cabinet Secretaries on alleged corruption in different government institutions.

Here is a summary of the suspensions as per Koskei’s letter.

According to Koseki, EACC asked Water CS Zachariah Njeru to suspend Tanathi Water Works Development Agency CEO Frederick Mwamati accused of illegally awarding a tender for the construction of a Leather Industrial Park Water Supply Project.

Labour CS Florence Bore was directed to suspend Stephen Ogenga, the Director-General of the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), for alleged procurement irregularities in the award of a tender for supplies at the authority. 

The Board of the National Museums of Kenya was asked to suspend Stanvas Ong’alo, the Acting Director-General, for alleged embezzlement of Ksh490 million through irregular payments.

Public Service CS, Moses Kuria, was directed to suspend Benjamin Kai Chilumo, the CEO of Huduma Centre Secretariat.