The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested three officials in an ongoing crackdown targeting the use of forged academic certificates to secure employment in public institutions.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the anti-graft agency said the suspects include Joshua Attuah Omia and Thomas Mbonje Bandari of the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company, as well as Silas Musasa Masambu of Kaimosi Friends University.
According to EACC, investigations established that Omia and Bandari forged Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificates and presented them as genuine documents purportedly issued by the Kenya National Examinations Council in order to secure employment at the Nairobi water utility.
The commission said that upon conclusion of investigations, files relating to the two suspects were forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, which approved charges of forgery, uttering a false document and fraudulent acquisition of public property.
EACC stated that the two are accused of unlawfully receiving salaries amounting to KSh5,909,037.10 and KSh9,485,177.96 respectively from Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company through the alleged use of fake academic documents.
The suspects were arrested on May 11, 2026 and arraigned before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court, where they denied all charges.
They were each released on a cash bail of KSh300,000 or an alternative bond of KSh1 million with a surety of a similar amount. The cases are scheduled for mention and directions on May 26, 2026.
In a separate case, EACC said investigations established that Silas Musasa Masambu allegedly forged a diploma certificate purportedly from Kenya College of Commerce and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree allegedly from Zetech University.
The commission said Masambu used the documents to secure employment at Kaimosi Friends University.
He was arrested at his home in Cheptulu, Vihiga County, processed at Kakamega Police Station and is expected to be arraigned before the Kakamega Law Courts on May 13, 2026.
EACC said the suspect is also facing charges of forgery, uttering a false document and fraudulent acquisition of public property amounting to KSh2,511,672, being salary allegedly earned through fraudulent academic qualifications.
The anti-corruption agency further disclosed that beyond criminal prosecution, it intends to pursue civil proceedings aimed at recovering salaries, benefits and other emoluments allegedly obtained unlawfully through forged academic certificates.
The latest arrests form part of a wider campaign by the commission to address fraud in public recruitment and safeguard integrity within public institutions.
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