A recent report by the Public Service Commission (PSC) has uncovered a total of 502 employees across various government sectors who secured their positions using forged certificates. The report, which evaluated the compliance status of the public service with the Constitution in the Financial Year 2022/2023, identified 66 institutions within the service sector with cases of certificate forgery.
Key findings from the report:
- State Department for Internal Security and National Administration:
- Registered the highest number of employees using fake certificates (107 cases).
- Breakdown: 78 with fake KCSE certificates, 25 with fake diplomas, and 4 with forged degree certificates.
- Kenya Railways Corporation:
- Recorded a total of 82 forged certificates, including certificates, degrees, diplomas, KACE, and KCSE.
- Public Universities:
- University of Nairobi: 4 diplomas.
- Garissa University: 1 certificate.
- Cooperative University of Kenya: 6 certificates.
- South Eastern Kenya University: 1 case.
- Rongo University and Kibabii University: 14 and 13 cases, respectively, across KCPE, KCSE certificates, diplomas, and degrees.
- Other Departments:
- KEMSA: 16 cases.
- KMTC: 35 cases.
- KPC: 24 cases, among others.
In response to these findings, the PSC took action by terminating the contracts of the affected workers after launching a crackdown in October 2023 to eliminate individuals with fake qualifications.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, while releasing the 2023 KCSE results, emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring the credibility and authenticity of qualifications. He instructed the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) to expedite the implementation of the National Qualifications Framework to address the issue of fake academic certificates and promote the portability of the country’s qualifications and labor mobility. The government aims to maintain high-quality education and training standards by addressing fraudulent practices in acquiring qualifications.
