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The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has apprehended four public officials for utilizing fraudulent academic certificates.
This operation is part of a broader initiative targeting the use of counterfeit academic and professional qualifications in the country. The arrests took place on Wednesday, with the suspects subsequently processed at the EACC Integrity Centre Police Station before being brought to court.
EACC spokesperson Eric Ngumbi confirmed that those arrested were employed in various agencies, including the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, the Commission on Revenue Allocation, the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority, and Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company.
This crackdown comes as the EACC expresses concern over the increasing number of individuals using fake academic credentials to secure government positions. Their quarterly report highlights a surge in cases where Kenyans have resorted to counterfeit degrees and diplomas to obtain prestigious roles, violating Chapter Six of the Constitution.
The EACC has intensified its efforts to root out public officials with fraudulent academic documents, leading to multiple arrests and court appearances. According to their report covering investigations from April 1 to June 30 this year, many offenders work in government-run institutions, including schools, colleges, parastatals, and county governments, as well as the IEBC.
An audit by the Public Service Commission of 331 government institutions revealed that over 2,000 Kenyans had used fake academic and professional documents to gain employment in various ministries and parastatals. This included 103 forged certificates from the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration, which encompassed 78 certificates from the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), two counterfeit degree certificates, and 23 fake diploma certificates.
Some high-profile officials currently under investigation include sitting Members of Parliament, senior county officials, nominated legislators, heads of parastatals, and medical officers, all of whom are either implicated in document forgery or involved in hiring individuals lacking the requisite academic qualifications.
