NAIROBI, Kenya – The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has uncovered widespread graft across national and county governments, revealing a litany of fake academic credentials, fraudulent tenders, bribery and abuse of office.
In a new report released this week, the commission says it forwarded 44 case files to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) between January and March this year—but only four have been approved for prosecution.
The majority remain pending, raising alarm over what the agency describes as “serious delays” in the pursuit of justice.
The report paints a grim picture of how systemic corruption is undermining both service delivery and public confidence in governance.
High-Profile Cases and Questionable Tenders
Among the cases still awaiting action is a Sh9.5 billion stadium tender awarded by the Ministry of Sports through direct procurement, allegedly without the knowledge of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority.
The contract was given to a foreign firm under questionable circumstances.
Counties are equally implicated. In Baringo, officials are accused of rigging a Sh34.9 million tender for a monitoring system, while in Nyandarua, a Sh13.5 million branding contract allegedly went to a company linked to a relative of a top county official.
The Kenya Wildlife Service is under investigation over irregularities in a revenue collection tender, while the Ministry of Roads is facing scrutiny over a Sh716 million maintenance contract for Nairobi’s Southern Bypass.
Fake Credentials and Payroll Fraud
The EACC has flagged alarming cases of forgery and fraudulent employment.
At the Kenya Medical Training College, an employee is said to have used a fake nursing diploma to earn Sh3.7 million unlawfully, while another reportedly submitted a forged food production certificate for a promotion.
At Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company, more than a dozen staff allegedly used forged KCSE certificates to secure employment.
One employee is accused of earning Sh15 million over ten years under false pretenses.
Across sectors, the use of forged documents to access public jobs or promotions is widespread, undermining merit-based recruitment and service quality.
Bribery and Abuse of Office
The report also details routine bribery by public officers.
A police officer at Capitol Hill Police Station is accused of demanding a Sh4,000 bribe to release an impounded motorcycle, while a court clerk at Makadara Law Courts allegedly pocketed Sh50,000 to fast-track a legal matter.
Abuse of office is cited as a recurring offence, with EACC recommending charges in dozens of files, including cases involving senior government officials.
Delayed Prosecutions and Eroding Trust
Out of the 44 files submitted to DPP Renson Igonga, eight were returned for further investigation, two were recommended for closure, and 28 are still pending—raising questions about prosecutorial will and capacity.
The commission warns that failure to act decisively risks eroding the integrity of Kenya’s anti-corruption framework.
“Unless timely and firm action is taken, the public’s trust in anti-corruption institutions will continue to decline,” the report cautions.
The findings come as Kenya ranks 121 out of 180 countries in the latest global corruption index, underscoring persistent governance challenges despite years of reform rhetoric.
