NAIROBI, Kenya Jan 13 – The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is seeking immediate suspension from the office of a Superintendent Engineer attached to the Transport Ministry for forgery of academic credentials.
Engineer Kenneth Kamumbu Mugo, who was arrested and subsequently charged, is accused of falsifying his degree certificate, falsely claiming to have earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Nairobi in 2006.
While his case is set for a pre-trial hearing in a Kiambu court on January 15, 2023, the EACC has petitioned the Transport Principal Secretary to suspend him from office.
The Commission is relying on Section 62(1) of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, 2003 in seeking Mugo’s suspension.
“Besides the ongoing prosecution, EACC will recover all the salary and benefits that he has earned from public coffers based on fake qualifications,” the anti-graft body said.
Using his fake certificate, Mugo initially obtained a position as the Director of Roads and Transport with the Kiambu County government in 2018 before transitioning to the Transport Ministry in 2020.
EACC had in 2018 exposed Mugo’s fraudulent academic papers during his tenure at the Kiambu County government, ultimately leading to his resignation.
With the fake Civil Engineering degree, Mugo registered for a Post-Graduate Certificate in Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Audit, a Master of Science Degree in Environmental Legislation and Management, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree in Environmental Technology, all at JKUAT.
After the exposure of the fake papers, JKUAT revoked the suspect’s Master’s and Post-Graduate Certificates and terminated his enrollment in the PhD program.
Mugo’s case is one of the 153 connected cases currently being pursued by the EACC, with each case at different stages in court.
EACC has since identified six categories of academic fraud which are prevalent in the country.
