NAIROBI, Kenya – The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has sounded the alarm over the persistent use of forged academic certificates in public service, revealing how unqualified individuals continue to occupy critical government positions despite intensified vetting measures.
In its quarterly report covering April to June 2025, published in the Kenya Gazette, the commission revealed that fraudulent academic records have infiltrated key state institutions, enabling impostors to secure jobs, promotions, and millions in public salaries.
The EACC report details various methods of forgery, ranging from fake secondary school certificates to altered university degrees.
In one case, a driver at the Office of the Auditor General allegedly obtained his position using a forged Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) from Scholar Secondary School, claiming he had passed with a C Plain.
Investigations later found he had never registered for the national exam. Over the years, he drew Sh4 million before leaving amid disciplinary proceedings.
Forgery is not limited to lower-level positions. The report cites a regional HIV coordinator at the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council who is accused of tampering with both his secondary and university credentials.
He allegedly upgraded his Kenya Certificate of Education (KCE) grade from Division III to Division II and submitted a forged Bachelor’s degree purportedly from Egerton University.
“Investigations also established that the Bachelor’s degree certificate purportedly issued by Egerton University was forged and therefore did not originate from the said university,” the report states.
Out of 30 investigation files forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions during the review period, many involved academic fraud.
Several cases have already been approved for prosecution, while others remain pending, highlighting a growing legal backlog linked to forged credentials.
The water sector has also been flagged. At Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company, an employee allegedly used a falsified Business Management diploma to secure employment. Investigators found she had never attended the institution listed on the certificate.
Over time, she earned Sh18.77 million, which the EACC says was illegally obtained. She is also accused of forging a telephone operator certificate to gain a permanent and pensionable role.
The report further indicates that institutions central to Kenya’s democratic and oversight functions—including Parliament, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), and the Office of the Auditor General—have also been infiltrated by individuals presenting fake academic papers.
EACC warns that despite ongoing efforts to curb the trend, academic fraud continues to thrive, undermining the integrity and efficiency of public institutions and eroding public trust.
