Fake Academic Papers: Gladys Boss Advocates Resignation Amnesty for Gov’t Officers
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is currently investigating 161 cases involving governmental officers who falsified academic documents. Among those under investigation are high-ranking government officials, including a governor, an MP, and the managing director of a governmental agency.
Gladys Boss, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, has suggested that the government offer amnesty to individuals with fake academic qualifications serving in public office, provided they resign.
Boss made these remarks as the Public Service Commission (PSC), EACC, and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) collaborated to identify and remove public officials with fraudulent academic degrees.
Boss believes that allowing personnel with questionable qualifications to resign without facing punishment would be the most effective way to combat bogus academic papers in the public sector.
She expressed her opinion during an appearance on Citizen TV’s Daybreak program, proposing legal penalties for those who do not comply with the amnesty.
Boss recommended an amnesty where individuals with fraudulent degrees or certifications could retire without penalty. She advocated for prosecution and recovery processes against individuals who chose to remain in office but later revealed their false degrees.
Boss highlighted the seriousness of fabricating academic papers, stating that obtaining a phony degree constitutes fraud and a criminal act with no exceptions. She emphasized that earning legitimate degrees later does not absolve the initial unlawful act.
To address the problem of fraudulent diplomas and impersonation, Boss proposed establishing a platform similar to the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) for institutions.
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This system would track students and institutions, helping to verify academic qualifications. Furthermore, Boss advocated for educational institutions to create digital portals that would allow companies to verify job applicants’ educational backgrounds.
In February, the PSC announced that it had conducted an authentication exercise on academic credentials, revealing that 2,000 public officers had obtained positions, promotions, and re-designations using forged academic papers.
Additionally, the commission’s investigations have resulted in six convictions, with approximately 20 cases currently ongoing in court. Furthermore, investigations into eight cases are complete.
Through the use of fraudulent academic documents, the anti-graft agency has recovered salaries worth Sh12,811,386.
One of the earliest cases dates back to 2016 and involves Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, whom authorities accuse of forging a business management diploma from the Kenya Institute of Management (KIM), a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificate, and a school leaving certificate from Highway Secondary School.
Investigations discovered inconsistencies in Sudi’s educational record, such as his registration at Luok Ngetuny Primary School under an alternate name.
Authorities also accuse Turkana Governor Jeremiah Loromukai of fraudulently obtaining his university degree and counseling diploma from Kenya Methodist University (Kemu). Despite a court order denying an application for anticipatory bail, the EACC has yet to arrest Loromukai.
Several judicial disputes have arisen over the legitimacy of elected officials’ academic credentials. Mithika Linturi, the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, won a case against the University of Nairobi, which attempted to invalidate his degree certificate without providing him a chance to defend himself.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja similarly faced questions about the legitimacy of his academic documents, but a High Court decision dismissed the case against him.
The fight against phony certifications may see a shift in reclaiming government money following a landmark verdict in which a man convicted of using a fraudulent certificate to acquire work was forced to return all profits earned during his tenure.
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Similarly, the EACC collected substantial sums from people accused of falsifying academic qualifications, paving the way for similar actions against other implicated authorities.
Efforts to address document fraud include the creation of a central database of recognized academic credentials. Although there has been progress, particularly in colleges and technical schools, university compliance remains low.
Logistical issues, such as the bulk of historical data, impede the process, but institutions are encouraged to prioritize data integrity to ensure the system’s efficacy.
Fake Academic Papers: Gladys Boss Advocates Resignation Amnesty for Gov’t Officers
