NAIROBI, Kenya – Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu has disclosed that she helped one of her staunch political campaigners falsify a Form Four certificate in an attempt to secure her entry into the National Police Service (NPS).
Nyamu made the revelation during an interview on Friday, October 23, saying the woman eventually reported to the police training college in Kiganjo, Nyeri County, before investigations exposed the forged academic documents.
According to the senator, the recruit was arrested alongside 17 others who were allegedly found with fake certificates during the training programme.
“I recently tried to help a very staunch campaigner of mine join the police force. She did not have a Form Four certificate, so we doctored it,” Nyamu said.
“She went to Kiganjo for training, but after investigations, she was arrested for forgery alongside 17 others,” she added.
The account amounts to an admission by the senator that she participated in falsifying an academic document to help the supporter obtain a place in the police service.
Nyamu Says Supporter Called Her From Police Station
The senator said she learnt of the investigation after the woman contacted her from a police station.
Nyamu recalled that she and the supporter had initially been happy about her admission to the police training programme, only for the situation to change when the alleged forgery was uncovered.
“She called me while at a police station, and we were so happy that she had joined the police service. All those who had fake documents at Kiganjo were sent away,” she said.
Nyamu did not, in the remarks provided, identify the woman or specify when the alleged recruitment and arrests occurred.
It was also not immediately clear whether the case had resulted in formal charges or a court determination against the recruit or the other individuals she mentioned.
Forged Certificates Have Previously Led to Dismissals at Kiganjo
The senator’s account comes amid ongoing efforts by authorities to tackle the use of fraudulent academic documents in public service recruitment.
In a report, 18 recruits at the National Police College in Kiganjo were listed among those whose training was terminated after forged academic certificates were detected.
The Public Service Commission has also warned that forged academic and professional certificates undermine merit-based recruitment and the integrity of public institutions.
In February 2024, the commission handed a report on forged academic certificates to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations for further action. The exercise had identified cases in which certificates were allegedly altered or used to obtain public appointments.
Police Recruitment Requires Genuine Academic Credentials
The National Police Service requires applicants to meet prescribed academic and other eligibility criteria before recruitment. Academic documents are subject to verification, and the discovery of forged certificates can result in disqualification or termination of training.
Nyamu’s account raises questions about the role of political connections in access to public employment and the responsibility of public leaders when supporters seek assistance with recruitment.
