Four public officials deny forging academic papers

Four public officers have been arraigned in Milimani Law Court over charges of forging academic certificates to secure jobs and promotions.

The officers, from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Commission on Revenue Allocation, and Nairobi Water and Small and Micro-Finance Authority, appeared separately before Chief Magistrate Harison Barasa in the Anti-Corruption Court.

Brenda Nelly Sulungai, an employee of Nairobi Water, was charged with allegedly forging a diploma certificate in Social Work and Community Development from Zetech University.
She denied the charges and was released on a cash bail of Sh100,000.

Mark Sandui, a driver with the Commission on Revenue Allocation, denied using a fake KCSE certificate to secure employment.

He allegedly used the purported certificate to acquire a consolidated salary  amount of Sh262,498 during his tenure.

Edna Kemunto Bitange also denied forging a fake bachelor’s degree in Business and Information Management to secure a promotion with the IEBC.

Kemunto allegedly used the purported certificate from Egerton University to advance from Job Group 8 to 7 as an Assistant Election Officer in the IEBC.

Francis Njiruh, 61, was charged with allegedly using a forged Bachelor of Arts (Economics) certificate from the University of Nairobi to secure employment at the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority in 2019.

He was also accused of allegedly presenting a fake certificate for a Strategic Leadership and Development programme, purportedly issued by the Kenya School of Government, to secure employment. During his time at the parastatal, Njiruh allegedly earned a total of Sh1,138,341.

All four were released on cash bail as the prosecution did not oppose their advocates' applications.

However, the prosecution requested that all accused persons be compelled to notify the court at least two weeks before traveling outside the court's jurisdiction.