The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has apprehended a government official who falsified his academic credentials to secure a lucrative position.
According to EACC, the suspect, identified as Javason Kimemia Maina, forged his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) from Kimuri Secondary School.
Subsequently, he utilized the counterfeit academic certificate to secure employment at the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC).
Maina was presented before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court following the Director of Public Prosecutions’ agreement with EACC’s recommendations to charge him with fraudulent acquisition of public property amounting to Ksh293,240.94 in salary received from REREC, forgery, and uttering a false document.
He was granted release on a bond of Ksh700,000 or a cash bail of Ksh400,000, with the matter scheduled for mention on 26th February 2024 for a pre-trial conference.
This arrest comes on the heels of Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairperson Anthony Muchiri’s revelation that over 2,000 public officers had secured positions, promotions, or re-designations using counterfeit academic documents.
“According to reports received by the Commission, numerous cases of forged academic and professional certificates have been uncovered in appointments, promotions, or re-designations within the public service,” Muchiri declared.
PSC’s investigation targeted at least 331 institutions, including 52 ministries, State Departments, and Agencies. EACC has pledged to probe allegations of some public entities failing to disclose all officers with forged certificates to the Public Service Commission. Any heads of state agencies found complicit in shielding academic fraudsters will face appropriate action, EACC assured.
