A good number of civil servants secured jobs and promotions using forged academic and professional papers, the Public Service Commission (PSC) has revealed, citing a preliminary audit report from ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) as well as the issuing authorities.
PSC chairman Anthony Muchiri said MDAs with verified cases of forgery have, among other penalties, terminated contracts of the affected workers.
“A preliminary report from both MDAs and issuing institutions reflects as follows; substantial cases of forged academic and professional certificates have been utilised for the award of appointments, promotions or re-designation in the public service,” he said in a letter to chief executives of State corporations.
“MDAs with verified cases of forged or fraudulently obtained certificates have instituted disciplinary action including termination of service for affected offices,” he added in the letter copied to Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management Cabinet Secretary, Moses Kuria, and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei.
Mr Muchiri said all civil servants who secured jobs with forged papers would immediately be struck off employment and forfeit all benefits.
“A select number of MDAs have sought advisory from the Commission on the monies and benefits (if any) entitled to the officers who have been dismissed on account of procuring appointments in the public service using forged or fraudulently obtained academic of professional benefits,” he said.
Such benefits include terminal dues, pension or gratuity depending on the terms of employment, payment of accrued leave days, leave allowance, and other employment gains.
“The Commission wished to guide that employment based on forged certificates is void ab initio and such employment should be declared null and void from the date of appointment. Such persons shall not be entitled to any form of benefits including pensions or unpaid allowances and accrued leave,” the PSC chairman said.
“The cases should be referred to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations for prosecution and recovery of monies owed and assets procured from the fraudulent activities,” he added.
The PSC ordered all MDAs to conclude the verification of academic and professional papers by December 31, 2023.
The Commission for University Education has in the past raised the alarm over the increased use of fake degrees to secure jobs in both the public and private sectors.
Several politicians, were for instance, last year found with fake certificates which they were hoping to use for elective positions.
To weed out fake academic papers in the employment sector, the government, through the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA), in 2021 launched a system dubbed 'Report Cheti Mwitu' for reporting fake certificates.
