NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya’s Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Eng. Peter Tum, has been directed to reimburse more than Ksh1.8 million to the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) for an irregular appointment he made while serving as the institution’s Chief Executive Officer.
In a letter dated September 4, 2025, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Dr. Korir Sing’oei conveyed the decision of the Inspectorate of State Corporations, which held Tum personally liable for the unlawful hiring of Dr. Miriam Ndunge Muthoka as Corporation Secretary between November 2015 and January 2022.
“Please be advised that the Inspectorate of State Corporations has made a final determination to surcharge you a sum of Ksh1,837,355,” read Dr. Korir’s letter to the ambassador.
Tum has been given 30 days to settle the amount or submit an approved repayment plan.
If he fails to comply, the government will recover the money directly from his salary in monthly deductions of Ksh100,000 over 19 months.
“You are urged to treat this matter with the utmost urgency and seriousness it warrants,” Dr. Korir warned, adding that the recovered funds would be remitted to KMTC.
The Inspectorate, led by James Warui, had written to the PS on June 5 confirming the surcharge.
Copies of the decision were also sent to Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Dr. Musalia Mudavadi, as well as Head of Public Service Felix Koskei.
This is the latest in a series of accountability actions linked to the controversial appointment.
Former KMTC Board Chair Prof. Philip Kaloki was also surcharged for the same decision but appealed to the State Corporations Appeals Tribunal.
In a July ruling, the Tribunal upheld the surcharge, ruling that Dr. Muthoka’s hiring was “irregular and unlawful” as she lacked the necessary qualifications, including registration as a Certified Public Secretary.
The Tribunal directed the parties to recalculate the final amount payable after factoring in statutory deductions, before recovery from Prof. Kaloki.
The Inspectorate of State Corporations is mandated to take surcharge action against individuals whose misconduct or negligence leads to financial losses in state entities.
