NAIROBI, Kenya Aug 8 – A former Deputy Director of Audit at the Office of the Auditor General, Hannah Wambui Mwaura alias Anna Wambui Mwaura, has been charged with allegedly using a forged university degree certificate to secure employment.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) arrested the suspect on 4 August 2026 and booked her at the Integrity Centre Police Station before releasing her on a police cash bail of Kes100,000 pending arraignment.
Investigations established that in July 2013, the Office of the Auditor General advertised the position of Assistant Manager – Audit, requiring applicants to possess, among other qualifications, at least eight years’ experience in audit, a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university, a Master of Business Administration or a related field, and professional accounting qualifications.
The Commission established that Mwaura submitted a forged Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting Option), Second Class Honours (Upper Division) degree certificate purportedly awarded by Mount Kenya University on 20 August 2010 in support of her application which later earned her promotion as a Deputy Director-Audit.
As a result, she unlawfully received Sh28,468,754.14 in salaries from 3rd February, 2013 to 23rd May, 2024. Further investigations revealed that at the time she presented the degree certificate during the recruitment process, she was still a student at Mount Kenya University pursuing the Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting Option) programme and had not graduated.
Upon conclusion of investigations, the Commission forwarded the investigation file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who approved charges of Forgery, Uttering a False Document, Deceiving a Principal and Fraudulent Acquisition of Public Property against the suspect.
The suspect was today arraigned before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court, where she pleaded not guilty to all the charges. She was released on a cash bail of Sh450,000 or a bond of Sh1 million and a surety of a similar amount.
The Commission will institute civil proceedings to recover salaries and benefits unlawfully obtained through fraudulent academic qualifications.
The Commission urges all Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and County Governments to strengthen verification of academic and professional certificates during recruitment and promotion processes to prevent the appointment of unqualified persons.
EACC further cautions members of the public against the vice and that related offences will be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
