Efforts to restore integrity and accountability in the public service are on course as Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti suspends 36 county revenue staff workers for being involved in corruption fraud.
The suspended officers have been ordered to hand over their duties to their chief officer, vacate the office immediately, and cease conducting any business on behalf of the county government.
The Governor who spoke to the media at her office in Machakos on Monday evening, called upon public officers to avoid shortcuts and instill integrity and honesty in their work while calling for a culture shift away from corruption.
“We must shift from a culture that demands corruption to one that demands integrity and build systems that reward honesty and not shortcuts. We must protect whistleblowers, not punish them,” said the governor.
Wavinya outlined fraudulent activities that have been carried out by the suspended officers, such as giving fake permits and receipts, diversion of funds and under-reporting of collected fees, among others.
She noted that despite the existing policy control and heavy investment in digitizing revenue collection systems, some public servants are still colluding with the public to issue illegal permits and con unsuspecting residents.
Wavinya named the 36 fraudsters, who are mostly revenue officers, administration, ICT, cashier, and billing officers who have been subjected to further investigations in efforts to expose and eliminate corrupt practices and affirm ethical governance.
“These acts of misconduct not only betray public trust but also undermine the integrity of our institution and the principles of transparency, accountability, and service that should define public service,” added Wavinya.
The Governor said the DCI and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) have been alerted to unearth more culprits.
The Governor said Machakos is aiming to be a corruption-free zone and urged Machakos residents to collaborate in order to win the corruption fight collectively.
By Anne Kangero and Wangui Ruchiu
