Govt Orders Fresh Crackdown on Fake Certificates to Recover Ksh460 Million
The Kenyan government has launched a sweeping nationwide crackdown on fake academic and professional certificates in both public and private sectors, in a bid to recover over Ksh460 million obtained fraudulently through forged qualifications.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), which is spearheading the initiative, revealed that at least 549 cases of certificate forgery are under active investigation. Public offices have emerged as the most affected, with the Head of Public Service Felix Koskei disclosing that up to 70% of fake documents are found in government institutions.
“This alarming trend cannot be ignored. We are taking decisive steps to ensure integrity in our workforce,” said EACC CEO Abdi A. Mohamud. He stressed the urgent need for institutional collaboration, as the verification exercise aims to hold culprits accountable and reclaim misappropriated funds.
EACC Chairperson Dr. David Oginde raised concerns that the problem may be even more widespread in the private sector. “If what we are seeing in government offices is any indication, then we must also shine a light on private institutions,” Oginde warned.
The judiciary did not escape criticism either. Oginde expressed dissatisfaction with what he termed as judicial leniency, which he argued has emboldened fraudsters. “We must be ruthless. Kenya must not tolerate shortcuts in any profession,” he asserted.
Felix Koskei emphasized that employers must take full responsibility for verifying academic credentials before onboarding new staff. “EACC and the Public Service Commission must shift this burden to employers. It’s the only way to prevent wastage of government resources and restore confidence in the hiring process,” he said.
The crackdown follows a string of embarrassing exposures where individuals in high-ranking positions were found to have secured jobs using forged papers. University lecturers have also come under scrutiny, with concerns that compromised qualifications in academia could undermine the quality of education.
As the government intensifies efforts to sanitize its institutions, the public is being urged to report any suspicious cases of academic fraud. The verification drive is expected to continue in phases over the coming months.
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Govt Orders Fresh Crackdown on Fake Certificates to Recover Ksh460 Million