Noah Oluoch Oketch
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has intensified its crackdown on fraudulent employment practices in the public sector, following the arrest of Noah Oluoch Oketch, the Finance and ICT Manager at the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC). According to EACC detectives, Oketch was apprehended for allegedly using forged academic documents to secure his position at the agency.
This arrest underscores EACC’s ongoing efforts to root out civil servants who fraudulently obtained government jobs. The suspect is currently being held at the EACC police station and is expected to be arraigned in court soon.
The commission, in collaboration with the Public Service Commission (PSC), the Kenya National Qualification Authority (KNQA), and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), has launched a comprehensive audit of academic credentials held by public servants. This multi-agency initiative is aimed at identifying impostors and ensuring integrity within the public service.
In March, EACC played a pivotal role in arraigning four individuals accused of using fake certificates to gain employment at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret. So far, more than 2,000 civil servants have been identified as having used forged academic papers.
EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak stated that all individuals found guilty of securing employment with fake credentials will not only face prosecution but will also be surcharged to repay all salaries and allowances earned.
Supporting EACC’s initiative, KNQA Director Dr. Alice Kande highlighted a growing trend in the use of counterfeit academic and professional documents, attributing it partly to rising unemployment among graduates. Dr. Kande revealed that nearly 30% of academic documents reviewed during qualifications validation exercises were found to be either fraudulent or tampered with.
Fraudulent certificates, typically issued by unaccredited institutions, fail to meet the standards set by the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF). These credentials undermine the credibility of the education system and pose a serious threat to public safety, particularly when holders occupy sensitive positions in government and other sectors.
To support EACC’s efforts, KNQA is working towards establishing a national qualifications database. This centralised platform will enhance the verification of academic credentials and curb the widespread use of fake documents.
Reinforcing the Commission’s commitment, EACC Chairperson Bishop David Oginde emphasised that all individuals found to have gained public sector jobs using forged academic papers will be dismissed. Furthermore, EACC is pursuing financial recovery from those already dismissed, demanding the full refund of salaries earned during their period of service.
Through these decisive measures, EACC aims to restore integrity and professionalism in Kenya’s public service while sending a strong message that academic fraud will not be tolerated.