The government has begun physically verifying civil servants as investigations continue into suspected payroll fraud involving Ksh6.2 billion in public funds.
The Ministry of Education is among the first government departments to direct staff to present themselves for the exercise, which is intended to establish whether employees listed on the payroll are genuine and actively serving.
In an internal memo dated Friday, October 16, the ministry instructed heads of directorates to ensure all employees under their supervision are accounted for during the week starting Monday, October 19.
Staff have been directed to report to Jogoo House in Nairobi for the mandatory headcount on October 19, 21 and 22.
The exercise follows a payroll audit conducted by the State Department for Public Service and Human Capital, which raised concerns about possible irregularities in government payroll systems.
“Following recent payroll Audit conducted in various State Departments and Counties by the State Department for Public Service and Human Capital, it has become necessary that a physical Headcount of all employees on the payroll be conducted in all State Departments,” the memo stated.
The ministry has directed all employees to take part in the exercise, including those who are on leave or receiving medical treatment in hospital.
Staff are required to present their original national identity cards, KRA PIN certificates, and both their first and current appointment letters for verification.
The memo warns that employees who fail to undergo the exercise risk having their salaries stopped.
The headcount comes after a government audit identified suspected payroll irregularities worth Ksh6.2 billion across 12 of the country’s 53 state departments.
The findings prompted the Cabinet, during a meeting on June 30, 2026, to direct the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to investigate suspected fraud across ministries, departments, agencies and state corporations.
Investigators were also tasked with verifying personal numbers used in payroll processing, identifying networks suspected of manipulating the system and recovering any public money lost through fraudulent payments.
In July, the DCI announced that it had begun investigations in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Service.
Preliminary findings reportedly pointed to cases in which unborn children, minors and ghost workers were listed on government payrolls and allegedly received salaries.
The Ministry of Health, Kenya Prisons Service and Kenya Police Service have so far been linked to the suspected irregularities.
Eighty-four human resource managers associated with the three agencies were asked to step aside for 30 working days as investigations continued.
The latest headcount is part of wider efforts to establish the accuracy of government payroll records and determine whether public money has been paid to people who are not entitled to receive it.
The investigations are ongoing, and the suspected irregularities have not, by themselves, established criminal responsibility on the part of any individual.