As the government intensifies its crackdown on the proliferation of fake academic and professional certificates within its workforce, a growing number of individuals at Nairobi’s City Hall are feeling the heat, with several investigative agencies rapidly closing in on suspects.
In 2020, during Philip Kisia’s tenure as Town Clerk, a private firm was engaged to audit the academic and professional certificates of Nairobi City Council employees. Preliminary findings revealed that a significant number of employees held fraudulent certificates. However, the report was never made public due to concerns that exposing the findings could jeopardize the jobs of nearly half the staff. The report was quietly shelved.
When Aisha Jumwa served as the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, she revived the issue of counterfeit certificates, ordering a comprehensive investigation into the authenticity of academic credentials for all government workers appointed in the past decade. This includes employees from county governments as well.
The crackdown has since uncovered widespread malpractice, with numerous employees at City Hall securing positions or promotions using forged certificates. Investigations indicate that nearly all departments are implicated, and as detectives step up their efforts, those involved are set to face serious charges.
One of the most affected departments appears to be the Inspectorate Department, where a significant number of officers, known as Kanjo, are suspected of using fraudulent Form Four certificates to secure their positions and promotions. Similarly, senior officials in the Inspectorate have come under scrutiny amid allegations of bribery tied to forged certificates.
The Accounts Department is another hotspot, with reports suggesting that certain accountants have obtained promotions through the use of counterfeit documents. There are also calls for audits of officials in the audit department, where high-ranking officers are alleged to have falsified professional accountancy and degree certificates.
Furthermore, drivers employed with only KCPE certificates have advanced to higher job positions by utilizing forged KCSE certificates. Other sectors, including chief officers, directors, assistant directors, and departmental administrators, have been implicated in the use of counterfeit credentials to secure promotions and job advancements.
In the Sub-County and Ward Administration, two ward administrators were recently hired with fraudulent certificates, and an additional individual was appointed despite lacking the necessary qualifications for the role. It has also been revealed that some Sub-County administrators used fake master’s degree certificates to advance to higher job groups.
This growing scandal underscores the extent of fraud at Nairobi City Hall, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the hiring and promotion processes. As the investigations continue, more revelations are expected, potentially shaking the very foundations of the city’s governance.
