The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has launched a crackdown on government employees holding more than one position.
Speaking to the press on Thursday, January 4, the commission’s spokesperson Eric Ngumi noted that EACC had directed individuals with more than one position to resign from the extra ones with immediate effect.
Also, it directed such government officials to refund the salaries and benefits they had earned from the extra positions.
This followed a landmark ruling in a case where a government employee who doubled up as a lecturer at the Jomo Kenyata University of Science and Technology (JKUAT) and a board member at the Kirinyaga County Assembly.
According to the EACC, such cases were rampant at the county government level.
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EACC VS JKUAT Lecturer
In the landmark ruling, the employment and Labour court in Nyeri had declared the double employment of Agnes Wanjiru irregular and unlawful.
Wanjiru served a part time role at the Kirinyaga County Assembly Service Board between and 2017 and 2022 while still working as a full-time senior lecturer at JKUAT.
Notably, the court ruled that Wanjiru was not eligible to hold the position at the Kirinyaga Service Board as she was already a full-time government employee at JKUAT.
Also, the court determined that she was not eligible for renumeration from the county.
However, she maintained that she had not broken any law as she only served as an external board member at the county.
At the same time, EACC has initiated the recovery of all salaries received by Wanjiru and other benefits earned while she served in the board. She was entintled to a monthly salary of Ksh145,000 from the county.
The Comission on Government Employee Accused of Holding 8 Positions
“We have recived reports amounting to about 324 out of which 43 files have been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to prosecute the persons involved,”
The case of Jeniffer Gatiri, ac ting Secretary and CEO of the Council of Legal Education accused of holding 8 government positions is among 43 other individuals under investigation.
If found guilty. The commission noted that it would go after the salaries the individuals have been receiving for the period they have been holding more than one position.
“The comission is investigating that matter and we have already recorded a statement from the suspect and once the investigation is complete then we will know what may have happened,” he added.
