The Government has sounded alarm bells over an increasing trend of education certificate forgeries among public servants, including top-ranking government officials. Concerns over unqualified individuals occupying strategic leadership roles were laid bare during the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) conference on enhancing the integrity of academic and professional qualifications in Kenya.
Addressing the forum on Wednesday May 21, Head of Public Service Felix Koskei described the situation as a grave threat to the credibility and effectiveness of public service delivery.
“We have a very high number of unqualified people holding the Government hostage due to their inability to lead key institutions,” said Koskei, calling for urgent reforms to ensure merit-based appointments.
A report by the Public Service Commission (PSC) revealed that the issue of falsified academic credentials cuts across all sectors of government—spanning both National and County levels, including parastatals, commissions, and independent offices.
The PSC on October 30, 2022, in a significant move to stem the malpractice, issued a directive for all public officers to have their academic and professional certificates authenticated.
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However, recent findings suggest individuals with forged documents have managed to secure and retain influential positions.
Addressing the conference, PSC Chairperson Amb. Anthony Muchiri warned that certificate forgery poses a long-term threat to the integrity of Kenya’s public service. He noted that several cases involve fake credentials purportedly acquired from reputable higher learning institutions, raising questions about oversight and verification mechanisms.
EACC Addressing Fake Academic Certificates
In response, EACC Chairperson Dr. David Oginde announced that the commission is pursuing a legal framework that will allow recovery of all salaries, benefits, and privileges accrued by individuals found to have used forged certificates to enter government service.
“It is no longer enough to simply terminate or prosecute those caught. We must recover the public resources unjustly acquired through deceit,” said Dr. Oginde.
He added, “Our problems stem from the bottom to the top where we have cases of exam cheating in primary and secondary schools.”
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Oginde also criticized the Judiciary for what he termed as “baseless acquittals” of high-profile suspects facing certificate forgery charges, saying some have been let off the hook-on flimsy technicalities.
The Head of Public Service has now directed that all public institutions must intensify their vetting processes.
In addition, academic and professional qualifications must be thoroughly scrutinized before individuals are appointed or promoted.
The firm statements signal a crackdown on one of the most persistent forms of fraud in Kenya’s public sector, which EACC say has compromised not just service delivery but also public trust in leadership.
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