NAIROBI, Kenya— The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has secured a major legal victory with the recovery of Sh67.6 million fraudulently paid to a National Treasury official as irregular allowances.
The High Court’s Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Division, presided over by Justice Musyoki, ruled that Faith Jematia Kiptis illegally received funds disguised as taskforce, extraneous, entertainment, and facilitation allowances between January 2020 and June 2022.
The court found that the payments were made in violation of government policy and without requisite approvals.
In the ruling, Kiptis was ordered to refund the full amount, with Sh2.4 million forfeited from her Equity Bank account and Sh6.3 million from her KCB Bank account.
“The court found that Ms. Kiptis had illegally and irregularly received public funds disguised as taskforce, extraneous, entertainment, facilitation, and other unspecified allowances,” read part of the ruling.
EACC investigations revealed that Kiptis had received multiple overlapping allowances not applicable to her job group, without Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) approval, and outside any formal government circulars or guidelines.
The payments were in direct breach of SRC advisories issued in 2015 and 2021, which prohibit such allowances.
The judgment reaffirms SRC’s constitutional mandate under Article 230, with the court noting that the Treasury acted improperly by effecting payments without SRC input.
The case is part of a broader crackdown by EACC on fraudulent allowances paid to Treasury officials. So far, the Commission has recovered over Sh174 million through court action and alternative dispute resolution.
Other implicated officials include Esther Ngeru (Sh34M), Tracy Njoki (Sh33M), Doris Simiyu (Sh18.8M), and Robert Murage (Sh20.3M).
EACC said the ruling underscores its commitment to safeguarding public funds and restoring integrity in financial management.
