NAIROBI, Kenya – The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested five current and former public officials in an ongoing crackdown on fake academic certificates used to fraudulently secure public jobs and promotions.
The arrests, made over the past two days, target individuals from five key institutions: the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC), Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), and Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC).
According to the EACC, the suspects allegedly forged degree and secondary school certificates to obtain employment or climb the ranks in public institutions—illegally earning tens of millions of shillings in taxpayer money in the process.
“This operation underscores our commitment to sanitise the public service and ensure that merit—not forgery—is the foundation of employment,” said EACC Secretary and CEO Abdi A. Mohamud in a statement issued Wednesday.
Big Earners, Bigger Lies
Among those arrested is Margaret Wanja Muthui, a former Deputy Director of Supply Chain Management at KeRRA.
Investigators say Muthui used not one but two forged university degrees to maintain her position: a Computer Science degree from JKUAT and a Business Administration degree from Kenya Methodist University.
She allegedly earned over KSh 40 million in salaries before her arrest on June 11. She is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday.
Another major case involves Vincent Tom Kemoli, an assistant at the NSDCC, formerly known as the National AIDS Control Council.
Kemoli is accused of using a forged Social Work degree from the University of Nairobi to land his job.
The EACC estimates he received KSh 16.5 million in salaries based on the fake credentials. He was expected in court Wednesday.
At the IEBC, Priscah Osotsi, an Assistant Election Officer, was arrested and arraigned at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on forgery-related charges.
She is accused of presenting a fake Human Resource Management degree from Masinde Muliro University to secure a promotion. Osotsi denied the charges and was released on a cash bail of KSh 200,000.
Fake KCSEs in the Spotlight
The crackdown also extended to falsified secondary school certificates.
Elijah Muthoga Kirethi, a former driver at KMTC, is accused of forging a KCSE certificate purportedly from Muhoya High School in 2003.
He was released on KSh 50,000 bail and is due in court on June 16.
Kelly Gichuri Muiruri, employed as a driver at NCWSC, allegedly used a fake KCSE certificate from Muhuri Muchiri Secondary School to get hired.
He reportedly earned KSh 6.7 million over the years and was released on KSh 100,000 bail after his arrest on June 10. He is also expected in court next Monday.
Civil Recovery on the Cards
Beyond criminal charges, the EACC says it will pursue civil recovery of all salaries, benefits, and allowances paid to the accused.
“The public service cannot be a refuge for fraudsters. We are working to ensure institutions vet documents thoroughly during hiring and promotions,” the Commission said.
The arrests come amid growing public concern over the prevalence of forged documents in government and the cost it imposes on the taxpayer.
The Commission has urged institutions to tighten background checks and adopt stricter vetting mechanisms.
