EACC probing Nandi County Gov't payroll fraud, ghost workers scheme

The Ethics and Anti-Commission Commission (EACC) has launched investigations into allegations of embezzlement of public funds through a fraudulent scheme involving unlawful payments to ghost workers and other payroll irregularities in Nandi County.

As part of the investigations, the Commission on Thursday conducted an operation to seize documents and other crucial evidentiary material after the Nandi County Government failed to comply with the EACC's order to avail the required documents to its offices by September 30.

The operation, EACC says, yielded valuable evidentiary material that will support the ongoing investigation, including the payroll server believed to harbour ghost workers.

It was preceded by the Eldoret Chief Magistrate's Court granting EACC the go-ahead to examine the offices and motor vehicles of various Nandi County officials, believed to contain useful information and documents that may assist EACC in carrying out full investigations.

The offices include that of the County Secretary, the Chief Officer of Finance, the Director of Human Resources, the Payroll Manager, and the officer(s) in charge of Payroll.

Additionally, EACC can also access the offices of the Chief Officer and/or officer(s) in charge of Education, Communication, and Health.

"I authorize (name withheld), an investigator with EACC or any other investigator duly appointed by the applicant, by this warrant to within an hour or day have access and/or gain entry into the offices of the Respondents and any motor vehicle(s) found in the said premises and to use, if necessary, reasonable force for that purpose, and search the said motor vehicle(s) and premises believed to contain useful information and documents," the court decreed.

EACC was likewise given powers to confiscate records, documents, and electronic devices, including but not limited to computers, laptops, iPads, tablets, phones, flash disks, compact discs, and any other storage devices, along with their respective passwords and/or passcodes.

This also included any property, documents, or information in any form, as well as other evidential material reasonably suspected to further fraudulent or criminal activities involving recruitment irregularities, payroll fraud, and other related offences.

Upon completion of the investigation, the outcome will inform appropriate action which may include prosecution of the suspects and recovery of any public funds unlawfully paid to individuals.