ELDORET, Kenya — Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested the director of a college in Eldoret over allegations of issuing forged academic certificates that resulted in a graduate losing his job after his credentials failed an official verification exercise.
The suspect, Philip Kipsoi Kiyeng, the director of Region Group College, was arrested following investigations initiated after the Public Service Commission (PSC) flagged questionable academic documents during the authentication of academic and professional certificates.
According to the DCI, investigations established that Kiyeng allegedly misrepresented the institution as being affiliated with Moi University, convincing a prospective student to enrol for a Diploma in Business Management under the belief that the qualification would be recognised.
The student successfully completed the course and was issued with a diploma certificate, which he believed to be genuine.
The graduate later presented the diploma to his employer as part of his academic credentials.
However, during a routine verification exercise conducted by the Public Service Commission, the diploma was found to be a forgery, leading to the employee’s dismissal.
The DCI said the complaint prompted investigations by detectives from its headquarters, culminating in the arrest of the college director in Eldoret.
Following the completion of investigations, the case file was forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which approved criminal charges against the suspect.
Among the charges approved is making a false document contrary to Section 347(a) as read together with Section 349 of the Penal Code, alongside other offences that investigators have not publicly disclosed.
The suspect is currently undergoing police processing and is expected to be arraigned in court.
The case highlights growing scrutiny by government agencies over fraudulent academic qualifications and the accreditation of tertiary institutions as public employers intensify the verification of academic and professional credentials.
The DCI has urged Kenyans to exercise due diligence before enrolling in colleges and training institutions by confirming their accreditation and legitimacy with the relevant regulatory authorities.
The agency also encouraged members of the public to report suspected cases of academic certificate fraud through the nearest police station or via its #FichuaKwaDCI reporting platform.
Authorities have not disclosed whether additional suspects or college officials are under investigation as inquiries continue.
