Kephis official charged with forging academic certificates

A senior Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) has been charged with forging four academic certificates to secure a job.

Mr Zinje Jumaa Mwadama, an assistant inspector with the parastatal was Friday arraigned before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Felix Kombo where he faced four counts of forgery.

This follows his arrest Thursday by officers from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

It was established that some of the certificates were awarded by nonexistent colleges.

“ He was charged with forging four (4) academic certificates to secure his job purporting them to have been issued by various academic institutions, including some that do not exist anywhere in the world,” said EACC.

The Commission has lately expressed concern over the widespread forgery of academic certificates.

The anti-graft agency regretted workers were forging academic certificates to secure employment and job promotions, especially in the counties.

“This trend is appalling and if untamed, it could adversely affect the national economy and compromise the integrity of Kenya’s education system which is currently rated highly at the global and regional levels,” EACC said.

EACC said it is investigating over 150 cases of forgery of academic certificates held by persons serving in the public service while 13 cases are pending before court.