Court Orders Treasury Official To Return Ksh67 Million In Illegal Allowances
The court found that Kiptis had illegally received public funds disguised as taskforce, extraneous, entertainment, facilitation, and other unspecified allowances.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has achieved a significant victory in its fight against corruption with the recovery of over Ksh 67 million fraudulently paid as unauthorised allowances to Faith Jematia Kiptis, an officer at the National Treasury and Planning.
The landmark judgment, delivered on July 15, 2025, by Justice Musyoki of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Division of the High Court in Nairobi, marks a critical step in holding public officials accountable for financial misconduct.
The court found that Kiptis had illegally received public funds disguised as taskforce, extraneous, entertainment, facilitation, and other unspecified allowances.
Photo of the Judiciary buildings in Nairobi. /THE JUDICIARY
In its ruling, the court ordered her to refund the full amount of KSh 67,664,975, with specific sums forfeited from her bank accounts, one of which had KSh 2,443,667.92 and the other had KSh 6,320,419.80.
"Payment of interest at court rates until full recovery; and Costs of the suit to be borne by Ms. Kiptis in favour of EACC," stated EACC in part.
The judgment follows investigations by the Commission, which were initiated upon receipt of reports alleging embezzlement of public funds by Kiptis.
The case stemmed from investigations launched by the EACC following reports of embezzlement of public funds by Kiptis.
The Commission’s probe revealed that between January 2020 and June 2022, she had received numerous irregular allowances, including duplicate payments for committee and taskforce duties, disbursements without approval from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), and benefits not aligned with her job group or government guidelines. Notably, some allowances were entirely undefined, lacking any basis in official procedures.
During the trial, the EACC presented compelling evidence demonstrating that these payments violated binding SRC circulars, particularly advisories issued on December 16, 2015 and April 22 2021.
The court emphasised that the SRC’s authority over public officers’ remuneration is enshrined in Article 230 of the Constitution and that Kiptis had knowingly engaged in a scheme to defraud the public.
Further, the judgment also criticised the National Treasury for failing to seek SRC guidance before approving the questionable payments.
This ruling underscores the EACC’s unwavering commitment to rooting out corruption and reclaiming illicitly acquired public funds. It also serves as a stern warning to other public officials who may exploit their positions for personal gain.
The Commission has reiterated its call for strict adherence to financial regulations across all government institutions to safeguard public resources and uphold accountability.
