Candidate in Juja by-election charged with papers forgery

Billboard of aspirant Ndungu George Koimburi in Juja for Member of parliament in Thika Road on April 25, 2021 [David Gichuru,Standard]

People Empowerment Party candidate in the upcoming Juja Constituency by-election George Koimburi was on Monday charged with using fake academic certificates to be cleared for the contest.

Appearing before Kiambu Chief Magistrate Patriciah Gichohi in a virtual session, Koimburi denied three counts of forgery and was ordered to pay Sh100,000 cash bail.

On April 14, the court issued a warrant of arrest against Koimburi, who is seeking the parliamentary seat in the May 18 by-election, after he failed to honour court summons.

The Officer Commanding Station Kiambu was ordered by the trial magistrate to arrest and produce Koimburi in court.

He was charged that on dates between November and December 1994, he forged a Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) certificate.

He was also accused that between September 2011 and April 2012, with intent to deceive, he forged a Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (Jkuat) certificate of participation.

Further, he denied that between 2011 and 2012, he forged a Jkuat academic excellence certificate.

The court was told that Koimburi presented the alleged forged papers to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for clearance to run for the seat.

The DCI was invited to probe the matter after Knec and Jkuat separately wrote  informing them the presented documents were not genuine.

“A candidate by the name of Ndungu George Koimburi did not register nor sit the year 1994 KCSE examination at the Ekalakala Secondary School under index 62001/013,” said part of a letter signed by Knec acting CEO Mercy Karogo filed in court.

She said in the letter to the DCI dated April 12 that the purported copy of 1994 KCSE examination certificate presented to KNEC for authentication was not genuine.

Jkuat Registrar of Academic Affairs Dr Esther Muoria said in a letter dated March 22 there were no records showing Koimburi received the papers from the institution.

The case will be mentioned on May 10.