EACC: Homa Bay Double Salary Recovery Of Ksh708,664 Ordered

• The High Court ordered the recovery of Ksh 708,664 from a former Homa Bay County employee and a former payroll officer.
• Ms. Evelyne Adhiambo Ogweno received double salaries totaling Ksh708,664 between February 2015 and May 2018.
• Former County Payroll Officer Maurice Ochieng Wambo was held jointly and severally liable with Ms. Ogweno for the refund.
• This recovery is part of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission's broader investigation into Ksh42,249,988 lost through Homa Bay County's payroll system.
• The EACC is pursuing both financial recovery and criminal prosecution for those responsible for the payroll fraud.

The successful recovery of Ksh708,664 from Ms. Ogweno and Mr. Wambo reinforces the EACC's aggressive pursuit of public funds lost through such schemes, sending a clear message to public sector entities about the critical importance of robust internal payroll controls and the potential for successful recovery suits, including joint and several liability for those involved.

The High Court has mandated the recovery of Ksh 708,664 from a former employee of the Homa Bay County Government, following a determination that she received unauthorized double salary payments over an extended period. In a judgment issued on September 18, 2026, the court specifically directed Ms. Evelyne Adhiambo Ogweno, who previously served as a medical social worker at Ndiru Hospital Centre in Rangwe Sub-County, along with Mr. Maurice Ochieng Wambo, a former County Payroll Officer, to jointly and severally reimburse the stated amount to the Government of Kenya.

This significant ruling was secured by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), which has been actively pursuing accountability for financial irregularities within public service. The order underscores the EACC's commitment to reclaiming public funds lost through illicit means, particularly in cases of payroll fraud.

The recovery order stems from comprehensive investigations initiated by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission into the payment of multiple salaries to both current and former personnel within the Homa Bay County Government. These inquiries revealed that Ms. Ogweno, formerly associated with the County Department of Health Services, received additional salary disbursements amounting to Ksh708,664 beyond her legitimate earnings.

This overpayment occurred between February 2015 and May 2018, spanning a period exceeding three years. The EACC subsequently initiated a recovery lawsuit, targeting Ms. Ogweno and three other former county payroll officials, to claw back these unauthorized payments. The involvement of a former payroll officer like Mr. Wambo highlights the internal mechanisms that may have facilitated such fraudulent activities, pointing to potential systemic vulnerabilities.

This particular judgment represents one component of a broader series of legal actions undertaken by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission. These cases are a direct result of extensive investigations into the alleged misappropriation of public funds totaling Ksh42,249,988 through the Homa Bay County Government's payroll system. The EACC's strategy extends beyond mere financial recovery; the commission is also vigorously pursuing the prosecution of public officials deemed most responsible for orchestrating or enabling the payroll fraud.

This dual approach signals a firm stance against corruption, emphasizing both the restitution of lost assets and the imposition of criminal accountability. The successful recovery of Ksh708,664 from Ms. Ogweno and Mr. Wambo reinforces the EACC's aggressive pursuit of public funds lost through such schemes, sending a clear message to public sector entities about the critical importance of robust internal payroll controls and the potential for successful recovery suits, including joint and several liability for those involved.

This judgment underscores the EACC's aggressive pursuit of public funds lost through payroll fraud, signaling to compliance officers in public sector entities the critical need to audit and strengthen internal payroll controls. For legal practitioners, it highlights the potential for successful recovery suits by the EACC and the imposition of joint and several liability on individuals involved in such schemes.

Source: Original reporting via official EACC statements.