Interior, Energy Ministries top list of staff with forged certificates

EACC CEO Twalib Mabarak and PSC Chairperson Anthony Muchiri look on as DCI boss Amin Mohammed addresses the media after the launch of a report on forged academic papers. [Courtesy, PSC X]

More than 2,000 employees in government have forged academic certificates, the Public Service Commission (PSC) has revealed.

PSC Chairperson Anthony Muchiri on Tuesday, February 13 during a press briefing noted that the Ministries of Interior and Energy topped with the highest number of employees with fake certificates.

In 2022, the Commission had asked all ministries, State departments and State corporations to undertake authentication of academic and professional certificates of officers appointed in the last ten years.

Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTTRH) and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) also topped the list with the number of inauthentic documents.

Out of the 53,999 cases referred to the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) by 91 institutions for authentication, 1,280 were verified as forged. The exercise is still ongoing.

PSC found that the common forgeries are; alteration of Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) grades and forged KCSE certificates where candidates did not sit for exams but produced certificates required for appointments.

The commission further stated that fake academic and professional certificates had been used to award appointments, promotions and redesignation in the Public Service.

Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) with verified cases of forged or fraudulently obtained certificates have already begun disciplinary action including termination of service for the affected officers.

"After the authentication exercise: Fifty-eight officers resigned, six took early retirement, 181 were dismissed from service, 252 had ongoing disciplinary action, and one was deceased," said PSC in its report.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) further called on employers to verify academic and professional certificates of persons seeking appointment. They have also asked academic institutions to establish fool proof means of safeguarding the integrity of their systems to guard against forgery and fraud.