Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu is facing intense scrutiny after publicly claiming she helped a political supporter forge a secondary school certificate to join the police force.
The National Police Service has launched an investigation into her remarks made during a live radio interview.
Admission on Live Radio
During an appearance on Radio Generation, the lawmaker recounted her attempt to help a loyal campaigner join the police service. She stated that the supporter, aged around 28 or 29, lacked a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education qualification.
Nyamu explained that her desire to assist stemmed from her 2017 political campaign, where many of her staff from informal settlements lacked Form Four certificates. She noted that when job opportunities arose, these supporters could not apply.
"Tukakarabati (we forged) a Form Four certificate, because I had this chance and I really had to give back,” she reportedly said.
"My team, the people who had been campaigning for me, are mostly from the slums, so I wanted to reward them because there was an advertisement for jobs," Nyamu said.
"So, I forwarded to them, apply for this, then they couldn't because they did not have Form Four certificates."
Recounting the specific incident, Nyamu admitted to altering the academic document. "I can even tell you of a recent case where I tried to help someone get into the police force, a very staunch campaigner of mine; they are even known," she said.
"They were, I think, 28, 29 years na hawana Form Four cert. Tukakarabati (we forged) a Form Four certificate, because I had this chance and I really had to give back."
Bust at Kiganjo College
The scheme unravelled when the recruit arrived at Kiganjo Police Training College for training. Internal investigations by authorities swiftly exposed the falsified documents.
"Do you know walienda Kiganjo for training, kidogo kidogo, kumbe investigations are usually done, we didn't know, do you know alinipigia simu akiwa police station," Nyamu recalled.
"And the way everyone was happy…but so and so walishikwa because of forgery. Wote ambao walikua na fake papers wakatolewa, they were about 18."
Police Service Response
On Saturday, 24 October 2026, the National Police Service confirmed it was examining the video recording. NPS spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga stated that the service was aware of the video containing the senator's remarks.
"The National Police Service (NPS) has come across a video in which a senior nominated politician states that she was aware of a supporter who used a fake certificate in an attempt to join the National Police Service as a recruit constable," the police statement read.
Police condemned the sentiments, describing them as "both regrettable and unacceptable, particularly as they come from a lawmaker and legal counsel."
The service reiterated that strict verification procedures are routinely conducted to prevent unqualified candidates from joining the force.
Demands for Summons
The controversy deepened on Sunday, 25 October 2026, when lawyer Ndegwa Njiru demanded that police formally summon the senator. Njiru, representing the Wiper Patriotic Front Party, accused police of applying double standards.
"Your 24 October 2026, statement is not a response; it is a cover-up," Njiru said in a public statement.
Njiru questioned why recruits faced immediate arrest while the senator had not been summoned for questioning.
"Summon Karen Nyamu. Investigate her own words," he demanded, urging authorities to enforce the law equally.
