The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested three public officials accused of using forged academic certificates to unlawfully earn a combined Ksh17.9 million in salaries.
In a notice issued on May 12, the anti-graft agency revealed that two of the suspects are employees of Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company, while the third works at Kaimosi Friends University.
According to EACC, the arrests are part of an ongoing nationwide crackdown targeting the use of fake academic documents in public service.
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“The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested three officials as part of an ongoing crackdown on the use of forged academic certificates,” the commission stated.
Investigations established that the two Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company officials allegedly forged Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificates and presented them as genuine documents issued by the Kenya National Examinations Council to secure employment.
Following the completion of investigations, EACC forwarded the files to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, which approved charges including forgery, uttering false documents, and fraudulent acquisition of public property.
According to investigators, the three suspects collectively earned Ksh17,905,887.06 in salaries while serving in public institutions using forged academic credentials.
EACC disclosed that one of the Nairobi water company officials received Ksh5,909,037.10 in salaries, while the second earned Ksh9,485,177.96 through qualifications prosecutors say they never legitimately obtained.
The two suspects were arrested on May 11, 2026, and arraigned before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court, where they denied all charges.
The court released each suspect on a cash bail of Ksh300,000 or a bond of Ksh1 million with a surety of a similar amount. The matter is set for mention on May 26, 2026.
Meanwhile, the third suspect faces separate allegations involving two forged academic certificates allegedly used to secure employment at Kaimosi Friends University in Vihiga County.
EACC claims the suspect forged a Diploma certificate purportedly from Kenya College of Commerce and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree allegedly from Zetech University before presenting them as genuine qualifications.
The suspect was arrested on May 12, 2026, at his home in Cheptulu, Vihiga County, before being processed at Kakamega Police Station. He was expected to appear before the Kakamega Law Courts on May 13.
Investigators say he fraudulently received Ksh2,511,672 in salaries from Kaimosi Friends University using forged academic documents.
The arrests come amid intensified efforts by EACC to eliminate fake academic qualifications within public institutions.
According to the commission, more than 549 public servants have already been flagged for holding fraudulent certificates, with over 2,000 forgery-related cases reported since mid-last year.
The incident also coincides with renewed efforts by Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company to combat illegal water connections and revenue losses across the capital.