Two former employees of public institutions have been arraigned at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court over allegations that they used forged academic certificates to secure employment and remain in public service.
The suspects, John Murira Mwicigi and Kevine Agweyo Okullo, appeared separately before the court on Wednesday and denied the charges brought against them.
Mwicigi, a former Security Supervisor at the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company, is accused of presenting a forged Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificate that was purportedly issued by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).
According to investigations, the certificate indicated that Mwicigi had studied at Githaiga Secondary School. Investigators, however, established that he was not a student at the institution.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) said Mwicigi allegedly used the certificate to secure employment at the public water company. He is also accused of fraudulently acquiring public property through salaries and other payments received during his employment.
The alleged amount is estimated at Sh15.86 million, covering the period from 2007 to December 2023.
Following the investigations, EACC forwarded the case file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). The ODPP agreed with the recommendation to prosecute Mwicigi on charges including fraudulent acquisition of public property, forgery and uttering a false document.
The second suspect, Okullo, was a former Technician at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital.
Investigators allege that Okullo submitted a forged Certificate in Refrigeration Grade II Trade Test while applying for a Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technician position at the hospital.
The certificate was purportedly issued by the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA). He is accused of providing false information, forgery and uttering a false document.
The cases highlight the checks that public institutions are expected to carry out when hiring staff, particularly where academic and professional qualifications are used to determine whether an applicant is suitable for a position.
Both suspects were released after meeting the bail terms set by the court. Each was granted a cash bail of Sh100,000 or a bond of Sh1 million, accompanied by a surety of a similar amount.
