The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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The Public Service Commission (PSC) has disclosed that certain public servants within crucial government agencies obtained their positions using counterfeit certificates.
This troubling revelation, as announced by the PSC on Tuesday, indicates that a significant number of these individuals are employed in the Ministry of Interior, Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), and the Geothermal Development Corporation, a parastatal under the Ministry of Energy.
During a media briefing, PSC Chairman Ambassador Anthony Muchiri revealed that these individuals are among the 2,067 cases of forgery uncovered during an investigation initiated in October 2022. The inquiry targeted 331 institutions, including 52 Ministries, State Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), 239 State corporations and Semi-Autonomous Government Agencies, and 40 public universities.
These institutions were instructed to provide lists of graduates from the past decade, subsequent graduation lists at the end of each calendar year, and access for online verification of academic and professional certificates for job applicants. Despite only 195 institutions complying, 1,280 forged cases were identified out of the 58,599 cases submitted to the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).
Muchiri emphasized that the authentication process is ongoing, hinting at the likelihood of discovering more forgery cases. Furthermore, 787 officers in MDAs, including universities and tertiary institutions, were found to have obtained appointments and promotions in the public service using fraudulent documents.
Various types of forgery were identified, including manipulation of KCSE mean grades, fabrication of KCSE certificates for individuals who did not sit the exam, and counterfeit education certificates. Additionally, some individuals were found to have never taken the purported examinations or registered as candidates.
The PSC has recommended that all cases be referred to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for prosecution and recovery of ill-gotten gains. They have also suggested denying individuals involved any benefits, including pensions, allowances, or leave.
The comprehensive report has been handed over to the DCI and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for further investigation and action.
