How Top Govt Official Used Fake Papers to Land Lucrative Job

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has detailed how a top government official used fake academic papers to ascend to a senior post in the Ministry of Transport.

Through a statement on Saturday, January 13, 2024, the commission said it was seeking the suspension of the official following his arrest.

According to EACC, Engineer Kenneth Kamumbu Mugo was arrested and arraigned on charges relating to forgery of academic certificates.

“Following the arrest and arraignment of Superintendent Engineer Kenneth Kamumbu Mugo, Ministry of Roads and Transport, EACC has written to the Principal Secretary seeking his suspension from office,” read part of the statement.

The commission further noted that it was seeking the suspension in pursuant to Section 62(1) of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, 2003.

Mugo is set to be appear for pre-trial at the Kiambu Anti-Corruption Court on 15 January 2024.

Also, EACC revealed that it will recover all the salaries earned by the government official.

“Besides the ongoing prosecution, EACC will recover all the salary and benefits that he has earned from public coffers on the basis of fake qualifications,” added EACC.

Also Read: EACC Goes After Govt Officials with More Than One Position

The commission further clarified how Mugo used forged academic papers to secure both county and national government jobs.

EACC exposes fake engineer

First, the fake engineer forged a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering, purporting to have been awarded by the University of Nairobi in 2006.

“Using the fake degree, he secured employment as the Director of Roads and Transport at Kiambu County Government,” read the statement.

This was before he again used the forged degree to secure his current senior post in the Ministry of Roads.

EACC divulged that it was conducting investigations into how Mugo joined the Ministry.

“The commission investigating how the “Engineer” was absorbed into the Ministry of Roads on 11 August 2020, despite having resigned from Kiambu County Government on 21 December 2018,” said EACC.

Also Read: KNEC Issues Warning Over Fake KCSE Texts

Using the fake degree in Civil Engineering, Mugo enrolled for other academic programs.

He enrolled for a Post-Graduate Certificate in Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Audit at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).

Mugo further enrolled for a Master of Science Degree in Environmental Legislation and Management at the same institution.

Also at JKUAT, the engineer further enrolled for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree in Environmental Technology.

However, following the revelation of the forgeries, JKUAT withdrew his Masters and Post-Graduate Certificates, and discontinued him from the PhD studies.