Senior Kisumu County Official Arrested for Fake Academic Papers and Fraudulent Salary Claims
On January 14, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) announced the arrest of a former senior official from the Kisumu County Government.
The individual allegedly secured the role of Director of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) through fraudulent means by presenting forged academic documents.
Reports indicate that during his three-month tenure, the suspect unlawfully obtained Ksh4,656,211 in salaries.
Investigations revealed that the man had falsified a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science certificate, claiming it was from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).
Further scrutiny uncovered that his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), supposedly issued by the Kenya National Examinations Council, was also fake.
The EACC, after concluding its investigation, handed the case to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The DPP recommended that the suspect face three charges.
First, he is accused of forgery, which contravenes Sections 345 and 349 of the Penal Code. Secondly, he is charged with uttering a false document under Section 353 of the same code.
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Lastly, he faces allegations of fraudulently acquiring public property, a violation under Section 45(1)(a), as outlined in Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
Currently detained at Kisumu Central Police Station, the suspect is expected to appear in court on January 15 to answer the charges.
This case is part of a broader issue, as fake academic credentials have become a significant problem in Kenya, even infiltrating government institutions.
A May 2024 audit by the Migori County Government exposed 290 staff members using fake academic papers.
In October, the EACC arrested four public officials for similar offenses, including employees of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority, and the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company.
Senior Kisumu County Official Arrested for Fake Academic Papers and Fraudulent Salary Claims
