2,000 HR practitioners hold fake papers: EACC

From (L): Quresha Abdullahi, CEO of the IHRM; Dalmas Philip Odero, National Chairman of the IHRM; David Oginde, Chairperson of the EACC; and Abdi Ahmed Mohamud, CEO of the EACC, after the signing of an MoU at Integrity Centre, Nairobi, on February 17, 2025. [Kanyiri Wahito, Standard]

At least 2000 Human Resource practitioners have questionable academic and professional qualifications, the anti-graft watchdog has revealed. 

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) said cases have increased over time since they were first forwarded by the Public Service Commission, raising questions over the integrity of the sector. 

"Since then, we have had several others, and they are at different stages of investigation, evaluation, and a number of them have already been forwarded for prosecution," said the EACC chairperson, Dr David Oginde.  

He made the revelations during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Institute of Human Resource Management (IHRM) in Nairobi on Tuesday. 

Dr Oginde said that some suspects have already been arraigned in court, others are under review by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, while several remain under active investigation.

"Quite a number of them have also paid back what they acquired during that time in the form of any kind of monuments, whether salary or other benefits," he stated. 

The anti-graft agency warned that individuals found to have secured employment using fake certificates will not only face prosecution but will also be compelled to refund all salaries and benefits earned during their tenure.

In some concluded cases, individuals have been forced to auction property to repay unlawfully acquired earnings.

David Oginde with IHRM National Chairman Dalmas Philip Odero after the signing of an MoU between the EACC and the IHRM at Integrity Centre, Nairobi, on February 17, 2025. [Kanyiri Wahito]

The EACC boss described fake academic credentials as a growing scourge that undermines meritocracy and denies qualified Kenyans employment opportunities.

“Many people, from senior to very junior levels, have entered the workforce using illegitimate documents. It kills meritocracy and drains public resources,” he said.

The investigations form part of a broader strategy by the Commission to address systemic corruption vulnerabilities within the human resource function, which EACC officials say has increasingly been exploited both deliberately and unintentionally.

Under the MoU, the two institutions will collaborate on capacity building, training, and prevention initiatives targeting HR professionals.

The partnership, according to IHRM's Executive Director Quresha Abdullahi, will see the rollout of a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) curriculum focusing specifically on ethics in human resource management.

"We will cover ethics in recruitment, ethics in employee relations management that includes disciplinary training opportunities, ethics on career progression, and also ethics on if it reaches that part, transitioning the employee out of the institution because they also have their own dignity and how you handle issues," she said. 

The first cohort of HR practitioners, she noted, will undergo training in Nairobi between April 13 and 17, with invitations set to be issued to both public and private sector employers.

IHRM said that the institute aims to reach every practicing HR professional in the country.

EACC’s Chief Executive Officer, Abdi Mohamud, emphasised that while the current collaboration focuses on HR practitioners, the Commission plans to extend similar initiatives to other professions. 

“If we straighten the role of HR professionals, we will have dealt with a huge component of ethical issues in our country,” said Mohamud. 

They said the MoU also seeks to curb related malpractices such as ghost workers within public institutions, a persistent problem that continues to strain government resources.

Responding to questions on whether HR officers involved in recruitment could be held liable for fake credentials, Oginde said culpability would depend on evidence of collusion or knowledge.

“Where we can show there was knowledge or involvement, everyone will take responsibility. But in cases where recruiters genuinely had no knowledge, that will be considered,” he said.