The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has directed the national and county governments to halt the ongoing payment of terminal benefits to public officers found with fake academic certificates.
In a statement on Monday, March 11, the Commission revealed that the victims are resigning or seeking early retirement from government and their terminal benefits processed illegally.
EACC warned accounting warned accounting officers to avoid processing pensions, unpaid allowances or accrued leave to individuals found with forged academic papers.
“It has come to the attention of the Commission that some public institutions have allowed public officers with cases of forged academic and professional certificates to resign or proceed on early retirement and processed payment of terminal benefits without following the law,” the statement read in part.
“To this end, the Commission advises that all accounting/authorized officers should not process benefits including pensions or unpaid allowances and accrued leave to persons found to have used fraudulent academic qualifications to gain employment in the public service.”
The Commission explained that the scheme by the suspects is calculated to defeat justice, noting that salaries, allowances, and benefits earned on the basis of forged academic certificates are recoverable in full.
EACC Advises Employers to Verify Academic Certificates
EACC also advised all public institutions to prioritize and undertake verification of academic and professional certificates of all public officers serving in the respective institutions.
“All cases of forged academic and professional certificates should be submitted to the EACC for further action in accordance with the law,” the statement read in part.
The Commission is also investigating reports that some public officials with forged academic certificates, especially in the counties, are enjoying protection of their employers.
In addition, that anti-graft agency emphasized its mandate to oversee and enforce compliance with integrity standards governing the conduct of all State and Public Officers as they execute their duties in the management of public affairs.
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PSC Raises Alarm Over Rise of Fake Academic Papers
On February 13, the Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairman Anthony Muchiri revealed that the Commission conducted investigations and established that the Ministry of Interior and Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) had the highest number of employees with fake certifications.
Muchiri said some of the culprits forged their bachelor’s certificates and altered their ranking to indicate that they obtained first class honors.
He explained that those employees have been able to evade arrests by resigning or applying for early retirement before disciplinary action is taken.
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Muchiri indicated that the government also experienced difficulty in reaching out to foreign institutions in addition to high cost of verification.
“Record relating to academic and professional qualifications are not digitized, delayed feedback on request, high cost of verification, difficulty in reaching out to foreign institutions outside the country and cases of implicated officers resigning or applying for early retirement before disciplinary action,” he said.
Kenya National Qualifications Authority Responses
In response the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) raised the alarm over the rising cases of employees possessing fake academic credentials.
KNQA called upon employers to verify academic papers before making hiring decisions.
Besides, the Authority emphasized that the fake certificates typically fail to meet the standards established by the KNQA, including minimum entry requirements, progression pathways and duration of study.