Questions Mount as EACC Arrests Ex-Nairobi Water Official Over Fake Degree Scandal
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has intensified its crackdown on fraudulent public service employment, arresting a former Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) employee accused of using a fake university degree to secure her position.
According to the EACC, the former registry clerk allegedly presented a falsified Bachelor of Commerce certificate purportedly from the University of Nairobi to obtain employment at the utility company. The commission said she subsequently earned salaries amounting to Ksh7.8 million during her tenure based on the forged credentials.
EACC Submits Case to DPP
After investigations, the EACC forwarded the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who approved three criminal charges — forgery, uttering a false document, and deceiving a principal. These offences fall under the Penal Code and the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
The suspect was processed at the Integrity Centre Police Station before being arraigned before Senior Principal Magistrate Hon. Ondieki at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court, where she pleaded not guilty. The court released her on a cash bail of Ksh80,000 or an alternative bond of Ksh1 million with one surety. The case will be mentioned on October 23.
Pattern of Fraudulent Employment
This latest arrest comes barely a day after another former NCWSC official was charged with using a forged Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) document to gain employment at the same company. That suspect was accused of presenting a fake certificate allegedly issued by Bishop Ndingi High School.
He also faced similar charges — forgery, uttering a false document, and deceiving a principal — and was released on a cash bail of Ksh100,000 or bond of Ksh1 million.
Earlier in the week, on October 4, another public officer was convicted for using a fake Diploma in Sports Science Management allegedly from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) to obtain a government job.
Crackdown on Fake Academic Documents
The EACC has repeatedly warned that presenting forged academic papers for employment constitutes economic crime and undermines merit-based recruitment in public service. The commission continues to investigate similar cases across state corporations and county governments.
