EACC uncovers widespread use of fake academic certificates in government jobs

As concerns grow among Kenyans over the rampant use of fake academic documents by individuals seeking government jobs, a report by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has shed light on some government institutions where employees secured positions using fraudulent papers.

According to the EACC's report, which covers investigations conducted between April 1 and June 30 this year, the offenders are employed in various government-run institutions, including schools, colleges, parastatals, county governments, and even the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

This quarterly report is made pursuant to section 36 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act (ACECA), Number 3 of 2003.

The suspects' files have been investigated and forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for further action.

Among the individuals implicated is an Assistant Elections Officer who submitted a fake Bachelor of Business Management (Human Resource Option) Degree Certificate from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), purporting to have been awarded on December 17, 2021.

"Investigation established that the suspect has never been a student at MMUST and that the Bachelor of Business Management (Human Resource Option) Degree Certificate was forged. The investigation further established that the certificate, transcripts, and graduation booklet are forgeries," the commission notes of the file that is pending action at the ODPP.

At the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC), formerly the National Aids Control Council, a former employee was found to have forged a Bachelor's degree from the University of Nairobi (UoN) to secure employment at the Council. The suspect, who was deregistered from UoN due to academic non-progress, used fake degree and transcript documents to secure the job. The case file has been forwarded to the DPP for action.

"Investigation further revealed that the copy of the degree and academic transcripts used by the suspect to secure employment were not genuine and were not issued by the UON. The certification in the certificate and transcripts was also forged," the report adds.

Some government agencies, like the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company, have proactively invited the EACC to probe their staff's documents.

An investigation revealed that an Investigations and Monitoring Officer at the company used a forged Bachelor of Laws Degree Certificate from Moi University to secure employment. Despite the suspect having been a student at Moi University, the submitted degree certificate was not authentic. The suspect earned a net salary of Sh8,998,710.10 from August 2017 to November 2023. The case is awaiting the DPP's response.

"Investigation confirmed that the suspect was a student at the University having been admitted under the Privately Sponsored Students Programme (PSSP) successfully pursuing a degree course leading to the award of a Bachelor of Laws Degree whereby she obtained a Pass and not a Second Class Lower Division," the commission notes.

Another employee under the rank of a Community Development Assistant was found to have used a forged Diploma in Community Development and Social Work Certificate from Zetech to secure employment. The certificate was purportedly awarded by Zetech College on November 6, 2015.

A sports supervisor at the same company was also found to have submitted a forged Diploma Certificate in Sports Science Management from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).

"Investigation by the Commission established that the Diploma Certificate was a forgery and not issued by JKUAT. Investigation further established that the fake Diploma Certificate was not used to confer any benefit to him hence no recovery of salary," the report notes.

The two files were forwarded to the ODPP for action with recommendations for prosecution but have been returned to the commission with recommendations for further investigations.

The ODPP, however, approved forgery and fraudulent acquisition of public property charges against an ICT Assistant at the firm who was found to have forged a Diploma in Information and Technology Certificate from Eldoret National Polytechnic to secure employment at the water company.

The investigation established that the suspect was employed on August 13, 2016, till he was dismissed in August last year during which he had fraudulently earned a net salary of Sh7,173,963.60.

"Investigation further established that the suspect was a registered student at the Eldoret National Polytechnic Pursuing Diploma in Information Technology. He only sat for Module 1 exams in July 2007 instead of the requisite three modules for the award of a Diploma," EACC says.

The suspect was issued with a show cause letter dated August 8, 2023, and later suspended from work via a letter dated August 24, 2023.

The EACC’s investigations also uncovered cases of forged certificates used to secure positions at the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD). A Disability Service Officer was found to have used a forged Bachelor of Arts (Sociology) Degree Certificate from Mt Kenya University to secure employment at the council.

At Njoro Girls High School, a bursar was found to have forged her Kenya Accounting Technicians Certificates (KATC) as well as her CPA Part II (Section 3 & 4) and Part III (Section 5) examination result notifications to secure employment at the school in 2012.

EACC's investigations revealed that the suspect instead registered for KATC and attempted the intermediate-level exams and failed. She has never registered for CPA nor attempted any CPA examinations.

"Investigation also revealed that the suspect fraudulently earned a salary amounting to Sh3,759,851 for the period from September 25, 2012, to December 21, 2020, and that she tendered her resignation on November 10, 2020, after she was invited to appear before the Board of Management to respond to the allegation of fake certificates," the commission notes.

In Samburu County, the Deputy Principal, of Mararal Vocational Training Centre was found to have forged the KCPE and KCSE certificates from Barsaloi Primary School and Baragoi Boys High School to secure his employment as an Arc Welding and Plumbing Instructor at the Samburu County Government.

Elsewhere, a driver at the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) was found to have used a forged KCSE Certificate to secure employment.

"Investigation established that the suspect had altered the grades for two subjects in his KCSE certificate when seeking employment. The investigation further revealed that for the period the suspect worked at CRA, from August 2023 to November 2023, the suspect had earned a net salary of Sh223,809," the report notes.

Though the DPP returned the file to EACC with a recommendation for further probe, the commission intends to issue an advisory to the CRA to conduct due diligence by verifying staff academic certificates periodically.