The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested a former Deputy Director of Audit at the Office of the Auditor General over allegations of using a forged academic certificate to secure employment in the public service.
In a statement issued on Friday, August 7, the anti-graft agency said the former official is accused of presenting a fake Bachelor of Commerce degree certificate during the recruitment process for an audit position at the Office of the Auditor General.
According to the EACC, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has approved multiple criminal charges against the suspect following the conclusion of investigations.
The charges include forgery, uttering a false document, deceiving a principal, and fraudulent acquisition of public property.
“Upon conclusion of investigations, the Commission forwarded the investigation file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who approved charges of Forgery, Uttering a False Document, Deceiving a Principal, and Fraudulent Acquisition of Public Property against the suspect,” the EACC said.
Investigations Link Certificate to Mount Kenya University
The commission said investigations established that the disputed Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting Option), Second Class Honours (Upper Division) degree certificate was purportedly issued by Mount Kenya University.
However, investigators found that the former official had not completed her studies at the university when the certificate was allegedly presented during the recruitment process.
According to the EACC, the document was used to support her application for the position of Assistant Manager – Audit at the Office of the Auditor General.
“Investigations established that she submitted a forged Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting Option), Second Class Honours (Upper Division) degree certificate purportedly issued by Mount Kenya University to secure employment as Assistant Manager – Audit at the Office of the Auditor General,” the commission stated.
Rose Through the Ranks
The former official is said to have risen through the ranks to become Deputy Director of Audit despite the alleged irregularities surrounding her academic qualifications.
The EACC did not indicate whether she later completed her studies or eventually obtained a legitimate degree after securing the position.
She is expected to appear before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on Friday to answer to the charges.
The latest arrest comes as the anti-graft agency intensifies its crackdown on the use of fraudulent academic certificates to obtain public employment.
The case follows the recent arrest of the director of Region Group College in Eldoret, who is accused of issuing fake academic certificates to students, underscoring the government’s renewed efforts to eliminate academic fraud within public institutions.