Editor's Review

"It is impunity of the highest for any person to walk into a government knowing very well they have a fake certificate and actually get a job." 

President William Ruto has ordered the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to move with speed and recover public resources spent on government employees with fake academic certificates.

Speaking on Wednesday, April 17 during the third National Wage Bill Conference 2024 at the Bomas of Kenya, President Ruto highlighted that 2,100 government employees have fake certificates.

“The 2,100 people identified who have been earning government wages and salaries should just refund the money we paid them otherwise the EACC and DCI must move with full speed to recover public resources that were spent on these people,” Ruto stated.

The Head of State asked all government employees with fake certificates to surrender and walk away noting that his administration would no longer allow unqualified employees.

File image of President William Ruto.

President Ruto noted that it was impunity for some Kenyans to walk into a government office with fake certificates and secure employment.

“Those who have fake certificates working in government at any level please surrender and walk away because it will not be business as usual as we go into the future. It is impunity of the highest for any person to walk into a government knowing very well they have a fake certificate and actually get a job,” the President added.

His directive comes a month after the Public Service Commission (PSC) announced that over 2000 public officers secured jobs, promotions and re-designations in government using fake papers.

In a joint press briefing with EACC and DCI on February 13, PSC Chairperson Anthony Muchiri said the three institutions would work together to weed out more public officers with fake academic credentials.