The National Treasury has issued a statement over the death of Evans Chirchir, a staff member at the ministry who was found dead in Machakos after going missing.
Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo on Thursday clarified allegations made by individuals claiming to represent the deceased’s family.
PS Kiptoo said that the information that has been going round about Chirchir is inaccurate and misleading, clarifying that the deceased was an intern deployed to the National Treasury under the Public Service Internship Program (PSIP).
According to the ministry, preliminary investigations indicate that an accident which claimed the life of the deceased occurred during Chirchir’s private time and was unrelated to his professional duties or activities at the National Treasury.
The PS said that the deceased reportedly went missing on the evening of Saturday, 31 August 2024, in the Kyumvi area, Machakos Junction, while returning from a private function in Makueni.
“The National Treasury extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Evans Chirchir, who tragically passed away over the weekend of 31 August 2024 in Machakos County. We have observed with concern the spread of inaccurate and misleading information on social media and in the press regarding Mr. Chirchir’s connection to the National Treasury,” read part of the statement.
“Mr. Evans Chirchir was an intern deployed to the National Treasury under the Public Service Internship Program (PSIP), Cohort 6, starting on 1st February 2024.”
The National Treasury refuted claims that the deceased was assigned to the procurement section highlighting that, as an intern, he was not actively involved in any tendering or procurement decision-making processes.
Treasury clarifies death of Evans Chirchir
PS Kiptoo further said that the ministry was informed of Chirchir’s disappearance and subsequent death on Monday, 2nd September 2024.
Also Read: Family Reveals Last Moments of Treasury Staff Who Died After Meeting Friends
His body was later found at the Machakos Level 5 Hospital, where he had been registered on the night of August 31, as a victim of a road traffic accident.
Local police in Machakos confirmed that the National Treasury staff member was struck by a vehicle late on the fateful night.
The ministry also argued that the incident took place far from his workplace, emphasizing that Chirchir’s role within the department did not intersect with the circumstances leading to his death.
“Since it was a weekend, Chirchir was not on official duty at the time of the incident,” the statement adds.
In addition, the ministry has confirmed that the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Kyumvi has since announced the arrest of the driver involved in the tragic incident.
A post-mortem examination is currently underway to determine the exact cause of Chirchir’s death.
At the same time, the National Treasury has urged the public to avoid spreading unverified and speculative information.
It warned that this could exacerbate the family’s grief and potentially tarnish the reputation of the National Treasury.
The public has also been requested to exercise patience while investigations proceed to ensure a fair and accurate assessment of the circumstances.
“We also call for patience as investigative agencies conduct their independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Mr. Chirchir’s death,” the statement adds.
Family Speaks
The clarification comes after Chirchir’s family revealed his last moments before his disappearance and the subsequent discovery of his body in the morgue.
Also Read: Former Govt Employee Sentenced to 8 Years for Forging Academic Certificates
Through their lawyer, Felix Keaton, the family revealed that their kin vanished shortly after receiving a phone call from friends who requested a meeting.
“Before he died there were some friends who summoned him and told him that they want to have a meeting with him at Machakos and after that meeting Evans Chirchir disappeared,” said the lawyer.
Additionally, the family disclosed that Evans had previously voiced concerns about his safety, revealing that he had received death threats over an alleged multi-million tender worth Ksh286 million he was involved with at work.
The family’s lawyers, along with some relatives, had appeared at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi on Tuesday, September 3, to file a habeas corpus—a legal action demanding the release of a person believed to be unlawfully detained.
However, before they could proceed, they were informed of Chirchir’s death, which was later confirmed by the family at Machakos Level 5 Hospital.
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