Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Headquarters have arrested the director of a college in Eldoret over allegations of issuing a forged academic certificate that left an unsuspecting graduate jobless.
The suspect was arrested following investigations triggered by a complaint from the Public Service Commission (PSC) during an exercise to authenticate academic and professional certificates.
According to the DCI, investigations established that the college director allegedly misrepresented the institution as being affiliated with a university, prompting a student to enrol for a Diploma in Business Management.
The student reportedly completed the course and was issued with a diploma, which he genuinely believed was authentic.
He subsequently presented the certificate to his employer as proof of his academic qualification.
However, the certificate was subjected to verification during the authentication exercise and was found to be forged.
The discovery resulted in the victim losing his job, despite having believed that he had obtained a legitimate qualification from a recognised institution.
The DCI said detectives pursued the matter following the verification process and completed investigations into the circumstances surrounding the issuance of the certificate.
Upon conclusion of the investigations, the case file was forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which approved charges against the suspect.
The suspect is expected to face charges including making a false document contrary to Section 347(a), as read with Section 349 of the Penal Code, among other offences.
The college director was arrested in Eldoret town and was undergoing processing ahead of his arraignment in court.
The DCI urged members of the public to exercise caution when selecting colleges and other institutions of higher learning, particularly where claims of affiliation with universities or other recognised institutions are made.
The agency also called on members of the public to report suspected cases of academic certificate fraud to the relevant authorities.
Kenya has continued to grapple with the problem of fake and forged academic certificates, with the vice affecting both the public and private sectors.
Fraudsters have been accused of altering genuine certificates, producing entirely fake documents or misrepresenting the accreditation status of institutions to obtain money from unsuspecting students.
The problem has also become a concern in the employment sector, where academic and professional qualifications are frequently used to determine eligibility for jobs, promotions and appointments.
Individuals who knowingly present fraudulent certificates risk losing their employment and facing criminal prosecution, while employers and public institutions have increasingly intensified verification of academic credentials.
The use of fake certificates also undermines merit and disadvantages qualified Kenyans who compete for limited employment opportunities using genuine academic qualifications.
