The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has intensified its crackdown on academic fraud in the public sector after arresting a Kenya Medical Training College accountant accused of using a forged Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificate to secure employment and promotions.
According to investigators, the suspect allegedly altered his KCSE mean grade from C- to C+ before using the falsified results to gain admission into Kisii University, where he pursued a Bachelor of Commerce degree. Authorities say the degree later enabled him to secure promotions and increased earnings within KMTC.
In a statement released on Thursday, the anti-graft agency said investigations established that the suspect fraudulently benefited from salaries and allowances amounting to Ksh3.9 million.
“The suspect was today arraigned before the Kisii Anti-Corruption Court, where he faced charges of forgery, uttering a false document, and fraudulent acquisition of public property amounting to Ksh3,965,292.30, being salaries earned during his employment,” EACC stated.
The accused denied all charges before the court and was released on a cash bail of Ksh200,000 or an alternative bond of Ksh500,000 with a surety of a similar amount. The case is scheduled for mention on June 15, 2026, for pre-trial directions.
The arrest forms part of a wider nationwide operation targeting public officers suspected of securing jobs using fake academic and professional documents. EACC says the growing trend has exposed serious weaknesses in recruitment and verification systems within public institutions.
The commission further revealed that it plans to pursue civil recovery proceedings to reclaim all salaries and benefits allegedly earned through fraudulent qualifications.
“The Commission reiterates its commitment to combating fraud and safeguarding integrity in the public service, and urges members of the public to continue reporting suspected cases involving forged or fraudulent academic certificates,” EACC added.
The case has once again raised concerns about the integrity of hiring processes in public institutions, with recent audits reportedly revealing that thousands of civil servants may be holding falsified academic credentials.
Experts argue that the continued rise in certificate forgery is costing taxpayers billions of shillings through fraudulent salaries, promotions, pensions, and allowances paid to unqualified individuals. Anti-corruption advocates are now calling for the government to adopt stricter digital verification systems linked directly to databases managed by the Kenya National Examinations Council and universities.
The crackdown signals a tougher approach by EACC, with suspects now facing not only dismissal from public service but also criminal prosecution and recovery of illegally acquired public funds.
