EACC Goes After Government Officials with Fake Academic Papers
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) says it is pursuing public officials with fake academic documents in a bid to recover the salaries they earned using the papers.
On Tuesday, the anti-graft agency said there are many people who have used forged academic documents to secure employment in the public service or get promoted to senior positions.
“Forgery of academic certificates has become prevalent in the public service. This is not only a crime but also a violation of Chapter Six of the Constitution,” EACC said in a statement.
The anti-graft watchdog further noted that it is currently investigating unnamed individuals and will require them to refund the public the money they have earned through fake documents.
“EACC is investigating suspected public officials and will seek to recover salaries earned on fake academic qualification,” the agency added.
Last week, two Kenyan women were sentenced to jail after they were found guilty of forging academic documents and using them to secure employment in a government agency.
The two, Pauline Otieno and Lilian Ochieng worked as supplies assistants at the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation in 2018.
They were charged with five counts including forgery, providing false information to a public entity, deceiving a public entity, uttering a false document, and fraudulent acquisition of public property being the cumulative salary earned on forged certificates
Pauline was convicted and jailed for two years and six months or pay a Sh228,698 fine while Lillian was jailed for three years and six months or pay a Sh271,901 fine.
Pauline was found to have forged a procurement certificate from Mount Kenya University (MKU) while Lilian forged both a diploma and certificate from the Kenya Institute of Management (KIM).
The court heard that the two worked in the State corporation for eight years as casual employees before forging the documents for their promotion to Supplies Assistants.