Why principal secretaries are next on Ruto's chopping board

President William Ruto(2nd left) with Principal Secretaries Belio Kipsang(Education), Dr Esther Muoria(TVETs) and Beatrice Inyangala(University) addressing the media after they meet with University Vice Chancellors over funding at State House, Nairobi on May 3, 2023. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

A directive that principal secretaries acting as accounting officers will be fired if Auditor General establishes audit queries is pushing some of them to consider quitting the public sector, The Standard has learnt, even before their contracts end.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi issued the directive after several permanent secretaries and heads of state agencies failed to answer audit queries in the latest Auditor General reports currently filed in parliament. These reports highlight the massive misappropriation of funds and theft of public resources across various ministries and state agencies.