EACC Stataement on 5 public service officials arrested in the crackdown of forged certificates. Photo: EACC.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission(EACC), arrested five public officials on June, Wednesday, 11, in the ongoing crackdown on fake and forged certificates among member of the public service.
According to EACC, the five Priscah Ososti, assistant Human Resource Manager at (IEBC), forged her certificate from Masinde Muliro University, Vincent Tom Kemoli council member at NSDCC, forged his certificate from University of Nairobi, and Margaret Wanja Muthui, former Deputy Director of Supply Chain Management at KeRRA, forged her certificate from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).
Others are Elijah Muthoga Kirethi, former driver at Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), allegedly forged his KSCE certificate from Muhoya High School, and Kelly Gichuri Muiruri an employee at NCWSC, alsoforged his KCSE certificate from Muhuri Muchiri Secondary School.
“The suspects who are employees or former employees of various public institutions, are accused of using falsified academic qualifications to secure employment and /or promotions, resulting in fraudulent acquisition of public funds amounting to tens of millions. The arrests follow investigations by the Commission into reports received from members of the public and various public institutions,” EACC stated.
EACC further stated that the case files have been submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP), who approved charges against the suspects. Ososti was arraigned at Milimani Anti-Corruption Court and denied charges of forged certificate, and was released on a cash bail of KSh 200,000 yesterday.
Muthui, Muthoga Kemoli and Gichuri, are set to be arraigned in court on Thursday 12 and Monday 16 respectively, to face similar charges of forgery.
“In addition to the criminal proceedings, the Commission will initiate civil recovery processes in court to recover all salaries, allowances and benefits fraudulently acquired by the suspects during their service,” EACC further stated.
The Commission seeks to recover KSh 6,742,673 from Gichuri, KSh 40,329,379.65 from Muthui, KSh 16,495,296.72 from Kemoli, as stated in their statement.
The crackdown comes as senior members of the government have been linked to forging certificates to receive nominations to elective posts. On May 27, EACC Kajiado West Member of Parliament George Risa Sunkuyia over alleged forgery of academic certificates.
According to the Commission, the legislator is said to have forged his KCSE certificate, purporting it to be grade C+, and fraudulently used the same document to enroll at JKUAT in 2012 and Mount Kenya University.
