Two former public officers charged over forged academic certificates

Two former officials, Kenneth Mwiti Kiogora and Daniel Mukoya Olando, have been charged by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over the alleged misuse of forged academic certificates to obtain employment, according to officials. Both men appeared before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on Wednesday, denying the charges brought against them.

Investigations revealed that Mwiti, a former Second Clerk Assistant at Kiambu County Assembly, fabricated a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificate, using it to secure a position at the Assembly and allegedly pocketed Ksh6,283,631.30 in fraudulent salary payments. The EACC forwarded the case to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who endorsed the charges of fraudulent acquisition of public property, forgery, uttering a false document, and deceiving a principal.

Olando, a former Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) employee, is accused of forging a Bachelor of Commerce degree certificate to become an Acting Fire Supervisor. He faces charges of knowingly using a false or misleading document, forgery, uttering a false document, and giving false information. Both defendants were released on bail, with Mwiti posting Ksh150,000 and a bond of Ksh1 million, and Olando securing release with Ksh100,000 cash bail or a Ksh500,000 bond.

The Commission intends to pursue civil proceedings to recuperate the alleged salaries and benefits obtained through the fraudulent academic credentials.