Man charged with forging certificates to secure Kephis job

An aerial view of Integrity Centre, EACC headquarters, between Valley Road and Milimani Road in Nairobi. [File, Standard]

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested a man who worked for the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) for forgery.

EACC arrested Zinje Jumaa Mwadama, an inspectorate officer and he was charged at the Milimani Anti-Corruption court with 12 counts arising from the forgery of academic certificates.

He is accused of forging academic papers, providing false information and acquisition of a Sh4.7 million property earned from his salary earned at Kephis.

Mwadama is accused of forging Certificates for Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), and a Certificate in Agriculture from Pwani University.

He is said to have forged a Diploma certificate in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development from Baraka Agricultural College in Molo and Academic transcripts from Pwani University.

He denied all charges and was released on a Sh3 million bond of a Sh250,000 cash bail.

The Authority has raised a red flag saying that cases of academic forgery to secure jobs and promotions have been on the rise.

According to EACC, people have been altering KCSE grades for admission to university, forging Degrees, and altering Degree or Diploma classifications.

They add that people have been forging degrees to secure a place to pursue a Master's degree as well as using qualifications belonging to other persons.

EACC say that they are investigating over 150 cases of academic forgery of people in Public Service and currently have 14 cases pending before courts.