EACC’s Crackdown on Fake Academic Certificates in the Public Service as Employees Resign to Avoid Arrest
In a decisive move to uphold integrity within the public sector, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) announced today a significant step in combating the proliferation of fake academic certificates among public officials.
Today, EACC Chairperson, Dr. David Oginde, FCS, and CEO Twalib Mbarak, MGH, CBS, alongside Director of Criminal Investigations, Mohamed I. Amin, CBS, OGW, ‘ndc'(K), received a crucial report from the Public Service Commission (PSC) regarding the authentication of academic and professional certificates within the public service.
ALSO READ: Free Russian Course Applications Closed Within Hours as Kenyan Interest Skyrockets
The Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, Anthony Muchiri, expressed concern on Tuesday regarding civil servants found with forged certificates, highlighting their tendency to resign to avoid arrest.
During the press briefing for the handover of the report on academic and professional certificate authentication to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Muchiri revealed that some individuals had opted for early retirement instead.
He also pointed out the challenges faced by the Commission, including delays in receiving authentication feedback from educational institutions and difficulties in contacting foreign institutions.
Muchiri emphasized that individuals discovered with forged certificates would not be eligible for any benefits, such as pensions, unpaid allowances, or accrued leave.
He called upon the DCI and EACC to take decisive action, while also urging Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) that had not yet submitted their authentication reports to do so promptly.
ALSO READ: Govt Begins Mandatory Vetting and Training of In-House Security Officers in Learning Institutions
According to Muchiri, the ministries with the highest incidence of forged certificates were the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Energy, whereas the government institutions with the most cases included Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Commenting on the situation, Twalib Mbarak, the Chief Executive Officer of the EACC, criticized the courts for prolonged judgments in cases involving government employees with forged certificates. Mbarak highlighted instances where the commission swiftly arrested suspects, only for the legal process to drag on for years.
He advocated for legislative amendments to facilitate the prosecution of individuals involved in certificate forgery, suggesting that empowering the Public Service Commission to handle such cases could expedite the legal proceedings.
Mohamed Amin, the Director of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), confirmed that detectives had been deployed to investigate and apprehend suspects implicated in certificate forgery.
The report, compiled by PSC, sheds light on the pervasive issue of public officials resorting to fraudulent means to secure government positions and advancements by presenting forged academic and professional credentials.
ALSO READ: Relief for Parents as Court Suspends Ministry of Education’s eCitizen Payment
Underlining the seriousness of the matter, the law empowers EACC to take stringent actions, including the recovery of all salaries and benefits accrued by individuals based on fake academic qualifications. Furthermore, offenders face the prospect of criminal prosecution.
This development underscores EACC’s unwavering commitment to rooting out corruption and ensuring that individuals occupying public offices do so with genuine qualifications and integrity. It sends a clear message that those engaging in such fraudulent practices will face legal consequences, serving as a deterrent to others contemplating similar actions.
EACC’s Crackdown on Fake Academic Certificates in the Public Service as Employees Resign to Avoid Arrest
