Former OAG deputy director Hannah Wambui presented in court/LEAH MUKANGAIA former Deputy Director of Audit at the Office of the Auditor General has been charged with allegedly fraudulently obtaining Sh28.4 million in salaries after securing employment using a forged university degree certificate.
The former public officer pleaded not guilty to all the charges brought against her before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on Friday.
According to the charge sheet, Hannah Wambui Mwaura, also known as Anna Wambui Mwaura, is accused of fraudulently acquiring public property amounting to Sh28,468,754.14 between February 3, 2013 and May 23, 2024.
"Between 3rd February, 2013 to 23rd May, 2024 at Nairobi county.. being a public officer employed at the Office of the Auditor General (formerly known as Kenya National Audit Office) as an assistant manager audit then deputy director- audit, you fraudulently acquired public property to wit Sh28,468,754.14 being monthly salary paid to you after securing employment using a forged degree certificate namely Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting Option) Second Class Honours Upper Division, purported to have been awarded to you from Mt Kenya University on 20th August 2010, which the said Office of the Auditor General relied upon to employ you," the charge sheet reads.
Mwaura is also accused of deceiving her employer by providing false information in an employment application form.
The prosecution alleges that on February 3, 2014, she stated in the application that she held a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Accounting from Mount Kenya University, which she allegedly pursued between 2008 and 2010.
She is accused of knowing or having reason to know that the information was false.
The former official also faces a forgery charge under the penal code.
The charge sheet also contains a separate count of providing false information to a public entity under the Leadership and Integrity Act.
Following her arraignment, she denied any wrongdoing and the court released her on a cash bail of Sh450,000 or a bond of Sh1 million, with a surety of a similar amount.
The case will now proceed as she contests the allegations against her.
It follows investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) into allegations that the former official used a forged academic certificate to obtain employment.
The anti-graft agency subsequently forwarded its investigation file to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who approved the charges.
In a statement issued after the arraignment, EACC said it would institute civil proceedings to recover salaries and benefits allegedly obtained through the 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," the commission added.
EACC cautioned members of the public against using fraudulent academic qualifications, saying offences relating to the practice would be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
