NAIROBI, Kenya- The National Police Service (NPS) says it is examining a video in which a senior nominated politician discussed a recruit who tried to join the police service using a fake certificate, after Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu described helping a supporter obtain a forged Form Four certificate.
Nyamu made the remarks during an interview on Radio Generation on Friday, October 23.
She said she wanted to help members of her campaign team find employment after a police recruitment advertisement was issued, but some did not have the required secondary school certificates.
“I can even tell you of a recent case where I tried to help someone get into the police force, a very staunch campaigner of mine,” Nyamu said.
She added that they forged a Form Four certificate for the supporter, who was about 28 or 29 years old.
Nyamu said the recruit went to Kiganjo Police Training College but was later arrested after investigations into fake academic documents.
She said about 18 recruits with forged papers were caught and removed from the training programme.
Police say recruits with fake documents were expelled
In a statement dated October 24, NPS spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said it had come across a video in which a senior nominated politician said she knew of a supporter who used a fake certificate in an attempt to join the service as a recruit constable.
The spokesperson said the case was among several flagged at the training college, leading to the expulsion of the recruits involved.
He described the remarks as unacceptable, particularly because they came from a lawmaker and legal counsel.
Muchiri added that police recruitment involves strict document-verification procedures and warned that attempts to use fake documents would not succeed.
The statement also referred to a Court of Appeal ruling in favour of the NPS on its mandate over recruitment and promotions.
It said the service would continue handling recruitment in accordance with the law and the Constitution.
Nyamu linked account to education access
Nyamu said the incident highlighted a wider challenge facing young people who lack secondary school qualifications.
She spoke about campaign supporters, many of whom she said came from informal settlements, and said she had wanted to help them access jobs.
She also urged young mothers to obtain Form Four certificates before enrolling in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions.
Nyamu is seeking the Nairobi woman representative seat.
