EACC Exposes 150 Govt Employees With Forged Certificates
Tuesday, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) disclosed that it is investigating 150 cases involving public servants suspected of forging their academic credentials.
During the launch of its Anti-Corruption Plan for the years 2023 to 2028 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), the commission noted that academic certificate forgery has become a widespread problem, prompting the agency to commence a crackdown.
‘’EACC is investigating over 150 cases of forgery of academic certificates held by persons serving in the public service while 13 cases are pending before courts,’’ the agency said in a statement.
The agency led by Twalib-Mbarak also noted that investigations into other cases had been concluded and that the accused would be prosecuted, imprisoned, and their illegally acquired assets recovered.
‘’In some cases, accused persons have been jailed or fined while in others, EACC has been granted orders by the Court to recover all the salaries and benefits earned based on forged academic certificates,’’ the commission added in its statement.
In the run-up to the last general election, instances of academic certificate forgery soared as candidates were put on the spot over the vice.
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Due to the pervasiveness of the vice, the commission has advised employers to conduct extensive background checks on new hires to avoid falling victim to fraud artists.
‘’The EACC highlights the widespread issue of forgery of academic certificates and calls for stronger background checks by employers, internal controls by universities, and adherence to established standards by learning institutions,’’ the commission emphasized.
During the inauguration, the commission emphasized that it has intensified its anti-corruption efforts.
‘’The Commission made significant strides in all its areas of mandate, namely, law enforcement, corruption prevention, education, and promotion of ethical standards,’’ the commission observed.
In its report for the period beginning in 2018 and ending in 2023, EACC revealed it had prevented the plunder of Ksh 39.2 billion and recovered assets worth Ksh 28 billion from corrupt individuals.
EACC Chairperson Dr. David Oginde, CEO Twalib Mbarak, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Auditor General Nancy Gathungu, and several senior Judiciary officials attended the occasion.
EACC Exposes 150 Govt Employees With Forged Certificates
