Interior, Energy Ministries top list of staff with forged certificates

Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTTRH) and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) also topped the list with the number of inauthentic documents.

Out of the 53,999 cases referred to the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) by 91 institutions for authentication, 1,280 were verified as forged. The exercise is still ongoing.

PSC found that the common forgeries are; alteration of Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) grades and forged KCSE certificates where candidates did not sit for exams but produced certificates required for appointments.

The commission further stated that fake academic and professional certificates had been used to award appointments, promotions and redesignation in the Public Service.

Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) with verified cases of forged or fraudulently obtained certificates have already begun disciplinary action including termination of service for the affected officers.

"After the authentication exercise: Fifty-eight officers resigned, six took early retirement, 181 were dismissed from service, 252 had ongoing disciplinary action, and one was deceased," said PSC in its report.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) further called on employers to verify academic and professional certificates of persons seeking appointment. They have also asked academic institutions to establish fool proof means of safeguarding the integrity of their systems to guard against forgery and fraud.