The official was accused of forging her academic certificates and using the same to secure employment at the electoral body on April 4, 2012.
In a matter that might shock the country’s main electorate system, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Monday morning, October 14 arrested a senior official of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
The official was accused of forging her academic certificates and using the same to secure employment at the electoral body on April 4, 2012.
EACC Spokesperson Eric Ngumbi confirmed that the suspect who is a Manager for Boundaries Delimitation, was arrested at her home in Nairobi West.
EACC offices at Integrity Centre in Nairobi. /FILE
She was escorted to the EACC Integrity Centre Police Station where she is currently held for processing to be arraigned before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court, today.
According to the anti-corruption body, investigations established that the suspect forged a Master of Arts (Population Studies) degree certificate purporting it to be a genuine certificate awarded by the University of Nairobi on May 9, 2004.
Additionally, she subsequently used the same to obtain a promotion at IEBC thereby earning a cumulative salary and benefits amounting to over Ksh37 million, which, according to EACC, constitutes fraudulent acquisition of public property.
The official was apprehended after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) concurred with the recommendations of EACC that she be charged with the offences of forgery.
Those offences are contrary to section 345 as read with section 349 of the Penal Code, and uttering a false document contrary to section 353 of the Penal Code.
“Further to the criminal prosecution, EACC will proceed to file civil proceedings in court to recover all the salaries and benefits amounting to over Ksh37 million earned by the accused person on the basis of fake academic qualifications,” Ngumbi stated.
The latest development underscores the government’s commitment to upholding integrity across all institutions, with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) at the forefront in terms of weeding out current and former government employees found to have forged their academic credentials.
On February 15 this year, EACC announced that it would conduct investigations on claims that some state agencies had been protecting officers accused of forging academic certificates to obtain well-paying jobs.
The anti-corruption watchdog had at the time warned that it would take action against any head of state agency who refuses to alert the body of persons wielding fake academic certificates.
President William Ruto reacts after being declared the winner of Kenya’s presidential election at the IEBC National Tallying Centre at the Bomas of Kenya, in Nairobi, Kenya on August 15, 2022. /REUTERS