EACC Arrests Three Officials Over Fake Certificates in Ksh17.9 Million Salary Fraud Probe
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested three public officials accused of using forged academic certificates to unlawfully secure employment and pocket millions of shillings in salaries.
In a statement released on May 12, the anti-graft agency said the arrests were part of an intensified nationwide crackdown targeting public servants suspected of presenting fake academic qualifications to gain employment or promotions within state institutions.
According to investigators, two of the suspects are employees of the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company, while the third works at Kaimosi Friends University in Vihiga County.
“The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested three officials as part of an ongoing crackdown on the use of forged academic certificates,” the commission said in its statement.
Nairobi Water Officials Accused of Forging KCSE Certificates
The EACC said investigations established that the two Nairobi City Water officials allegedly forged their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificates and falsely presented them as authentic documents issued by the Kenya National Examinations Council in order to secure employment.
Detectives further established that the two men continued receiving salaries and employment benefits for years despite allegedly lacking the qualifications required for the jobs they occupied.
Following completion of investigations, the EACC forwarded the files to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, which approved charges including forgery, uttering false documents, and fraudulent acquisition of public property.
According to prosecutors, the two officials collectively earned more than Ksh15 million through the alleged scheme.
One of the suspects is accused of receiving Ksh5,909,037.10 in salaries, while the second allegedly pocketed Ksh9,485,177.96 based on qualifications investigators say were fraudulently obtained.
The two suspects were arrested on May 11 and later arraigned before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court, where they denied the charges.
The court released each accused person on a cash bail of Ksh300,000 or a bond of Ksh1 million with a surety of a similar amount. The matter is scheduled for mention on May 26, 2026.
University Employee Arrested in Separate Forgery Case
In a separate but related case, the EACC arrested a staff member at Kaimosi Friends University over allegations that he used multiple forged academic certificates to obtain employment.
Investigators claim the suspect forged a Diploma certificate purportedly from Kenya College of Commerce as well as a Bachelor of Business Administration degree allegedly from Zetech University.
The documents were allegedly presented as genuine qualifications during the recruitment process at the university.
The suspect was arrested on May 12 at his home in Cheptulu, Vihiga County, before being processed at Kakamega Police Station ahead of his court appearance at the Kakamega Law Courts on May 13.
The EACC said the university employee unlawfully earned Ksh2,511,672 in salary through the alleged use of forged credentials.
He faces charges similar to those levelled against the Nairobi Water officials, including forgery, uttering false documents, and fraudulent acquisition of public property.
EACC Intensifies Crackdown on Fake Academic Papers
The arrests come amid a broader anti-corruption campaign targeting fraudulent academic qualifications within public institutions.
The EACC recently disclosed that more than 549 public servants have been flagged for allegedly holding fake academic certificates, while over 2,000 forgery-related cases have been reported since mid-last year.
The latest developments also coincide with ongoing reforms at Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company, where management has intensified operations against illegal water connections and revenue leakages across the capital.
Anti-graft investigators say the use of forged academic papers has become a growing concern in Kenya’s public sector, with authorities warning that more arrests and prosecutions are expected in the coming months.
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