Panic As Sakaja Orders Mandatory Audit Of Academic Credentials for All Staff To Weed Out Fake Certificates Holders

Anxiety has gripped Nairobi City County employees following Governor Johnson Sakaja’s directive for a comprehensive verification of academic and professional qualifications, an exercise aimed at rooting out staff who secured jobs using fake certificates.

The Nairobi City County Public Service Board issued the directive on December 2, requiring all employees to submit copies of their academic certificates, professional qualifications, current appointment letters and a signed disclaimer form by January 15, 2026. The exercise follows directives from the Public Service Commission and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, which have been waging a nationwide war against academic fraud in the public service.

County employees, some speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed fears that the audit could expose widespread use of forged credentials within City Hall. The timing of the crackdown is particularly sensitive given the long-standing controversy surrounding Sakaja’s own academic qualifications, which dogged his 2022 gubernatorial campaign. The governor was accused of presenting questionable degree certificates, allegations he vehemently denied as politically motivated.

The verification exercise targets more than 17,000 county workers, making it one of the most ambitious integrity checks ever undertaken by the Nairobi administration. According to the circular signed by Acting CEO and Secretary Geoffrey Akumali, the documents must be submitted through sector administrators who will coordinate the exercise across all departments.

In a stern warning that has set tongues wagging in county circles, the board cautioned employees against falling prey to fraudsters or internal actors who might try to exploit the process. “All staff are cautioned not to give money, facilitation fees, or any form of payment to any individual claiming to fast-track, influence, or assist with the verification exercise,” the notice stated, adding that the process is free of charge and strictly being handled by authorized officers.

The directive has sparked intense speculation about potential casualties, with some employees already seeking legal advice.

A middle-level county employee who spoke to Kenya Insights off the record admitted the directive had caused panic among colleagues. “There are people who are genuinely worried. This is not just about losing jobs but facing criminal prosecution and being forced to refund salaries earned over many years,” the source said.

The crackdown comes amid a national outcry over the pervasive use of fake certificates in the public service. President William Ruto himself revealed in April 2024 that over 2,100 government employees had been discovered with forged academic papers, ordering them to refund salaries obtained through false pretense. The scandal has exposed serious weaknesses in Kenya’s hiring processes and verification systems.

The Public Service Commission handed over a report to EACC and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in February 2024, detailing how thousands of public servants had used counterfeit certificates to secure employment and promotions. The report identified the Ministries of Interior and Energy, along with Kenyatta National Hospital and several public universities, as the most affected institutions.

Head of Public Service Felix Koskei has described the situation as a threat to governance and national development, noting that appointments and promotions must reflect fair competition and merit. The EACC has since ramped up prosecutions, with dozens of officials facing charges of forgery, fraudulent acquisition of public property and deceiving their principals.

Among recent cases, five officials from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company were arraigned in January 2025 for using fake certificates. The accused include individuals who forged KCSE certificates, university degrees and professional diplomas to secure lucrative government positions. Some face charges relating to salaries worth millions of shillings obtained fraudulently.

The Kenya National Qualifications Authority has flagged over 10,000 fake certificates after reviewing 47,000 personnel files from about 400 public institutions. During verification exercises conducted between 2022 and 2024, out of 53,000 cases submitted to the Kenya National Examination Council by 91 public institutions, 1,280 certificates were confirmed as forgeries.

PSC Chairman Francis Meja has attributed the proliferation of fake papers to high unemployment rates and over-reliance on academic certificates for job procurement. He acknowledged that desperate job seekers are tempted to use shortcuts to access employment opportunities in an economy where formal jobs remain scarce.

For Nairobi County employees, the next six weeks will be nerve-wracking as they scramble to compile their documents. Those found with fake certificates face criminal prosecution under Section 349 of the Penal Code, which provides for a three-year jail term for forgery. They could also be ordered to refund all salaries and benefits earned during their employment.

The board has urged staff to report any suspicious approaches or solicitation attempts to sector heads or directly to the County Public Service Board. “This verification is mandatory for all Nairobi City County staff,” the notice emphasized. “The objective is to maintain transparent, credible and up-to-date human resource records that reflect the highest standards of public service.”

The exercise has reignited debate about Sakaja’s suitability to lead such a crackdown. During the 2022 campaigns, the Commission for University Education refused to recognize his degree from Uganda’s Team University, claiming he did not acquire it procedurally. The University of Nairobi also stated that while Sakaja had enrolled in 2003 to study Actuarial Science, he had not graduated. Sakaja eventually presented a degree from Team University and was cleared by the electoral commission to contest, winning the governorship with 699,392 votes.

Critics have questioned the moral authority of a governor whose own academic credentials were contested to now demand verification from employees. However, supporters argue that the directive demonstrates commitment to integrity regardless of past controversies.

The Nairobi exercise mirrors similar crackdowns across the country as the government seeks to restore public confidence in the civil service. Several county governments have initiated their own verification processes following the national directives.

As the January 15 deadline approaches, the exercise is expected to separate those with genuine qualifications from fraudsters who have been masquerading as qualified professionals. For some, it will be a moment of vindication. For others, it could mark the end of careers built on lies and the beginning of criminal proceedings that could see them jailed and financially ruined.

The verification drive represents a critical test of Kenya’s commitment to meritocracy in public service. Whether it will achieve its stated objectives or become another bureaucratic exercise remains to be seen. What is clear is that for thousands of Nairobi County employees, the next few weeks will determine whether their careers survive the audit or crumble under the weight of forged credentials.