NAIROBI, Kenya-The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has secured the convictions of two former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) employees after they were found to have used forged academic certificates to obtain and advance in public employment.
In a statement, the anti-graft agency said the convictions reinforce its efforts to protect the integrity of recruitment and promotions within the public service.
Former clerk fined Sh1.6 million
The Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on July 2, 2026, convicted Purity Mwaniki Wanja, a former IEBC Constituency Office Clerk, after adopting a plea bargain agreement.
According to the EACC, investigations established that Wanja forged a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificate purportedly issued by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and used it to secure employment at the electoral commission in July 2012.
She pleaded guilty to charges of fraudulent acquisition of public property, forgery and presenting a forged certificate.
The court convicted her on her own plea of guilty and ordered her to pay Sh1.6 million, comprising Sh1.5 million in compensation and Sh50,000 fines each for the forgery and presenting a forged certificate offences.
Former IEBC officer convicted over fake degree
In a separate case, the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on June 29, 2026, convicted Luka Mukimi Musamali, another former IEBC employee, for using a forged university degree certificate to secure a promotion.
The EACC said Musamali submitted a falsified Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies (Public Administration) degree certificate purportedly issued by Moi University while applying for promotion from Constituency Office Clerk to Constituency Elections Assistant.
Following a full trial, the court found him guilty of deceiving a principal and uttering a false document but acquitted him on the charge of forgery.
He was fined a total of Sh110,000, with custodial sentences to apply if he failed to pay.
EACC warns against certificate fraud
The anti-corruption commission said the convictions send a strong message that the use of forged academic or professional certificates to secure employment, promotions or any other public benefit is a criminal offence.
“The Commission will continue to investigate and pursue all persons who engage in such fraudulent conduct to safeguard integrity and accountability in public service,” the EACC said.
The commission added that it remains committed to ensuring merit-based recruitment and career progression across public institutions through continued investigations and prosecutions of certificate fraud cases.
