EACC Officers On The Spot In Fresh Fake Certificates Probe On NG-CDF Staff

Officers from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) have come under attack on alleged favoritism and collusion with public officers under probe in the fresh vetting of academic papers that has unearthed a Pandora Box scandal.

Allegations are being made that some EACC officers investigating claims of fake papers among managers working with the National Government Constituency Development Fund Board (NG-CDF) are in collusion to undermine the integrity of the process by colluding with suspects in alleged coverup.

This comes as the anti-graft agency steps up its efforts to combat the proliferation of fake academic papers among Kenyans seeking government jobs.

The Commission said on Wednesday it was seized of reports that some senior officers employed by the NG-CDF Board have dubious academic papers.

The anti-graft agency said it has covered significant ground in some of the cases reported while others are at different levels of evaluation.

EACC is also looking into claims that the NG-CDF Board failed to act when issues of a senior staff alleged to have fake academic papers were brought before them.

A controversial case that has sparked suspicions is that of Lari constituency after the fund officer Florence Njuguna was confirmed to have forged her papers to land employment. The area MP is Joseph Mburu.

Njuguna is said to have used fake documents from Moi University, where she presented a degree in Bachelor of Business Management
Moi University has already confirmed it is a fake degree and Kasneb (accounting CPK certificate) have too disowned the document as forgery.

There are credible fears that the constituency’s funds are now handled by under qualified manager hence the need for a quick intervention. The NG-CDF board is said to be aware of the matter and has been playing accomplice in protecting her and playing coverup. The big question remains why she’s still in office despite being exposed as a quack and who’s protecting her.

The EACC has emphasized its commitment to prosecuting individuals found to have secured government positions using fake academic papers and recovering any benefits earned through such means. Recently, the Commission arrested a ward administrator in Marsabit on similar charges of using forged documents to secure employment.

Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairperson Anthony Muchiri disclosed that a comprehensive authentication exercise revealed over 2,000 public officers who obtained jobs, promotions, or re-designations through fraudulent academic credentials. Muchiri emphasized that the findings have been shared with the EACC and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for appropriate action.

The probe targeted a total of 331 institutions, including ministries, state departments, agencies, state corporations, and public universities. While some institutions have fully complied with the authentication process, others are still under scrutiny for potential irregularities.

The ongoing investigation underscores the seriousness with which government agencies are addressing the issue of academic fraud. By collaborating with law enforcement agencies and conducting thorough assessments, authorities aim to uphold the integrity of public service and ensure that individuals are appointed based on genuine qualifications.