Nairobi —A growing scandal over forged academic papers in Kenya’s public service is set to take centre stage this Wednesday as top government officials, regulators, and educators gather for a national conference on ethics and integrity in Nairobi.
The meeting, convened by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), will be opened by Felix Koskei, Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service. Organizers say the event will confront what they describe as an alarming rise in fake academic and professional credentials many of them held by individuals occupying public office.
“This is not just about paperwork it’s about trust,” said Dr. David Oginde, chair of the EACC. “When a person fakes qualifications, they are not just cheating a system. They’re stealing opportunity from those who have worked for it.”
Held under the theme ‘Enhancing the Integrity of Academic and Professional Qualifications in Kenya’, the conference is expected to draw leaders from universities, professional bodies, law enforcement agencies, and human resources departments. The goal, according to organisers, is to “spark a national dialogue” and forge lasting solutions to a crisis that has rocked public confidence.
The event follows a series of high-profile investigations by the EACC, which has flagged dozens of public servants for using fraudulent certificates to secure promotions, jobs, and even political office. Some of those cases are still pending in court.
“We’ve seen people who can’t explain how they got their diplomas, let alone their degrees,” said a senior official at the Commission, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to comment publicly. “The system has loopholes, and it’s time we closed them.”
Also expected at the conference are Ambassador Anthony Mwaniki Muchiri, Chair of the Public Service Commission, and Abdi A. Mohamud, the EACC’s Secretary and CEO. Their presence signals a broader push within government to clean up the credentialing process and restore credibility to Kenya’s education and employment sectors.
Academic fraud is not unique to Kenya. But local experts warn that without urgent action, the problem could undermine public institutions and deepen inequality. Those with fake documents often edge out qualified candidates, worsening morale and lowering standards across key sectors like education, health, and administration.
“The stakes are too high for us to look the other way,” said Dr. Caroline Kariuki, an education policy analyst. “Integrity in qualifications goes hand-in-hand with service delivery. If you have a doctor or an engineer who faked their training, the results can be deadly.”
In addition to public speeches, the one-day conference will feature panel discussions on how to improve verification systems, strengthen background checks, and boost collaboration between academic institutions and state agencies.
Organisers hope the conference will not end with speeches but will result in concrete proposals. Among the ideas on the table are stiffer penalties for offenders, better data-sharing among institutions, and the creation of a centralised database for academic and professional records.
For now, the message from the EACC is clear: cleaning up academic fraud is not optional it’s essential.
“Integrity must not be negotiable,” said Dr. Oginde. “This is about protecting the dignity of honest work and ensuring our institutions reflect the values we claim to hold.”
