The EACC on Tuesday arrested and arraigned Javason Kimemia Maina, an employee of the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC), for forging academic certificates to secure a job at the agency. Investigations established that he forged a KCSE certificate from Kimuri Secondary School.
Maina was arraigned before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court after the Director of Public Prosecutions concurred with recommendations.
The commission charged him with the fraudulent acquisition of public property of Ksh 293,240.94 salary paid to him by REREC, forgery and uttering a false document. He was released on a bond of Ksh 700,000/=, surety of the same amount or a cash bail of Kenya shillings Kes. 400,000/=.
The matter will be mentioned on 26th February 2024 for a pre-trial conference. EACC is currently analyzing the PSC Report on Authentication of Academic and Professional Certificates to inform relevant enforcement action against the 2000 public officials who forged their academic certificates to secure employment.
The Commission is also set to investigate allegations it has received to the effect that some public entities didn’t forward to the Public Service Commission all the names of their officers with forged certificates.
EACC chairperson David Oginde has vowed that action will be taken against any culpable head of a state agency involved in attempts to protect academic cheats.
On Monday, 12th February 2024, EACC received the report from the Public Service Commission.
The authentication exercise, undertaken by PSC, revealed numerous cases of public officials who forged academic and professional certificates to secure Government jobs and promotions.
The law allows EACC to recover all salaries and benefits earned based on fake academic qualifications. In addition, the offenders are liable for criminal prosecution.