Former Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Ndegwa Muhoro received an overpayment of Sh5.1 million during his tenure as Kenya’s high commissioner to Malaysia, according to auditor-general Nancy Gathungu.
This overpayment occurred due to a salary miscalculation, where Muhoro was mistakenly paid nearly double his agreed gross salary for 27 months while serving in Kuala Lumpur.
Despite the Public Service Commission setting his monthly pay at Sh344,286, higher than the maximum for his position, Muhoro received Sh659,286 per month from February 2019 to June 2020.
He further received Sh661,676 per month from July 2020 to August 2021, instead of the correct amount.
In total, Muhoro was overpaid Sh6.8 million during his time in Malaysia.
Efforts to recover the excess payment begun in June 2022, with a monthly deduction of Sh100,000.
However, due to his recall in November of the same year, Muhoro only managed to repay Sh1.7 million before return to Kenya in December 2023. His position was taken up by John Ekitela, an appointee of President William Ruto.
The government faces the possibility of never recovering the outstanding amount, as Muhoro’s contract ended before full repayment could be made.
