The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Tuesday, January 14, confirmed the arrest of a former senior official in the Kisumu County Government.
The individual is accused of obtaining the position of Director of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) under false pretences by presenting fake academic certificates.
During the three months he held the position, he is alleged to have defrauded the county of Ksh4,656,211 in salary payments.
An investigation by the commission revealed that he had forged a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Computer Science degree certificate, purportedly issued by Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).
A photo of the EACC headquarters, at Integrity House in Nairobi.
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EACC
His Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education, issued by the Kenya National Examinations Council, was also found to be fake.
Upon completing investigations, the EACC forwarded the case to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who recommended that the suspect be charged with three offences.
Consequently, he faces a charge of forgery contrary to Sections 345 and 349 of the Penal Code, as well as a charge of uttering a false document contrary to Section 353.
His third charge relates to the fraudulent acquisition of public property, contrary to Section 45(1)(a) as read with Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
He is currently being held at Kisumu Central Police Station, awaiting arraignment in court on January 15.
This arrest is not an isolated case, as the epidemic of fake academic papers has unfortunately infiltrated the job market, including government offices.
In a damning report published in May 2024, Migori County Government unearthed 290 officials working in the county using fake academic documents following an audit.
In October, four public officials were arrested by the EACC for using fake university certificates to secure government jobs. Two of the suspects worked at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), one at the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority, and the fourth at the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company.
E.C.D.E Diploma Certificates in display
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FIA