EACC arrests former Auditor General deputy director over forged academic certificate

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested a former Deputy Director of Audit at the Office of the Auditor General over allegations of using a fake academic certificate to obtain employment.

In a statement on Friday, August 7, EACC said the official is accused of presenting a forged Bachelor of Commerce degree certificate during the recruitment process for an audit position at the institution.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has approved charges related to forgery, presenting a false document, misleading an employer and unlawfully obtaining public property. 

“Upon conclusion of investigations, the Commission forwarded the investigation file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who approved charges of Forgery, Uttering a False Document, Deceiving a Principal, and Fraudulent Acquisition of Public Property against the suspect,” the statement read.

According to the commission, investigations found that the certificate submitted was purportedly issued by Mount Kenya University.

However, the EACC said its findings showed that the official had not completed her studies at the time the document was presented, as she was a student at the institution.

Investigators found that the disputed certificate was used to support her application for the role of Assistant Manager of Audit at the office. 

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“Investigations established that she submitted a forged Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting Option), Second Class Honours (Upper Division) degree certificate purportedly issued by Mount Kenya University to secure employment as Assistant Manager – Audit at the Office of the Auditor General,” EACC wrote.

The former official rose through the ranks at the Office of the Auditor General, with questions emerging over how her career progression continued while she allegedly relied on the disputed academic documents.

EACC did not disclose whether she eventually completed her studies or obtained the accredited qualification she was accused of presenting during the recruitment process.

The former official is expected to appear before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on Friday morning to answer to the allegations.

As the EACC intensifies efforts to curb the use of fraudulent documents in securing public positions, the latest case comes two days after the arrest of the director of Region Group College in Eldoret over allegations of issuing fake academic certificates to students.

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