IEBC, KMTC, KeRRA officials among suspects arrested over forgery of academic certificates

Detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) have arrested five individuals, including employees and former staff of key public institutions, in a crackdown targeting the use of forged academic documents in the public service.

The suspects are drawn from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC), and Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC).

EACC CEO Abdi A. Mohamud, in a statement on Wednesday, said the arrests followed investigations into reports received from the public and various institutions, with suspects accused of using falsified qualifications to secure employment and promotions, resulting in the loss of tens of millions.

The suspects are Priscah Osotsi, an Assistant Election Officer at IEBC, former KeRRA Deputy Director of Supply Chain Management Margaret Wanja Muthui, Vincent Tom Kemoli (Assistant at the NSDCC), Kelly Gichuri Muiruri (driver at NCWSC) and Elijah Muthoga Kirethi (former driver at KMTC ).

Prisca is accused of forging a Human Resource Management Bachelor of Science degree purportedly from Masinde Muliro University and allegedly using it to seek promotion at IEBC.

She has since been charged with forgery and uttering false documents but denied the charges before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court and was released on a cash bail of Ksh.200,000 or an alternative bond of Ksh.800,000.

Wanja is said to have allegedly used forged degrees in Computer Science from JKUAT and in Business Administration from Kenya Methodist University to secure and maintain her position at KeRRA.

Investigations by the commission have revealed she fraudulently received over Ksh.40 million in salaries and is set to be arraigned on June 12, 2025.

Kemoli, on the other hand, is said to have used a forged Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from the University of Nairobi to gain employment at NSDCC. 

The commission established that he fraudulently received over Ksh.16 million in salaries in the period.

Muthoga is accused of forging a KCSE certificate allegedly issued by Muhoya High School in 2003 and using it to gain employment as a KMTC driver in 2018.

He was arraigned and released on a cash bail of Ksh.50,000 and is scheduled to appear in court on June 16, 2025.

Similarly, Muiruri, who is employed as a driver at NCWSC, reportedly forged a KCSE certificate from Muhuri Muchiri Secondary School, which he used to fraudulently earn over Ksh.6 million in salaries.

He was arrested on Tuesday and released on a Ksh.100,000 cash bail. He will appear in court on June 16, 2025.

The commission is seeking criminal proceedings and civil recovery processes to recover all salaries, allowances, and benefits fraudulently acquired by the suspects.

EACC further urged public institutions to enhance verification and vetting procedures for academic credentials during recruitment and promotion processes.