EACC warn tertiary institutions over fake academic certificates ahead of 2027 polls
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has raised concern over a growing trend of academic certificate forgery ahead of the 2027 General Election, warning universities, colleges, examination bodies, and regulators to strengthen verification systems to prevent abuse of qualifications for political gain.
Speaking during a capacity-building workshop for the County Assembly of Bungoma held in Kisumu on Thursday, EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi A.
Mohamud, in remarks delivered by Western Regional Manager Eric Ngumbi, said the commission has observed a pattern where cases of academic fraud increase in the run-up to elections.
He warned that some individuals seeking elective positions often attempt to bypass academic requirements by acquiring forged certificates to qualify for nomination and clearance by electoral bodies.
“Let me comment on an issue of great interest to the commission. This is the prevailing challenge of forgery of academic certificates, a problem that often intensifies in the periods leading up to general elections,” he said.
Mohamud urged universities and colleges to strengthen internal controls to ensure certificates are only issued to deserving candidates who have fully met academic requirements.
He stressed that academic institutions bear responsibility for safeguarding the credibility of qualifications issued to students.
“Similarly, it is the duty of universities and colleges to maintain controls that ensure that no individual is, under any circumstances, issued a certificate for courses they did not undertake or without attaining the required qualifications,” he added.
The EACC also reaffirmed its commitment to intensify investigations into academic fraud in collaboration with other agencies, warning that those found guilty will face prosecution.
The commission further used the forum to highlight risks posed by conflicts of interest in county governments, describing them as a major driver of corruption, especially in procurement and recruitment processes.
Mohamud noted that some county officials have been implicated in irregular tender awards linked to proxy companies connected to Members of County Assemblies (MCAs), resulting in loss of public funds through inflated costs, ghost projects, and substandard works.
He said such practices undermine service delivery and weaken public trust in devolved governance.
Bungoma County Assembly Speaker Emmanuel Situma welcomed the training, saying it was timely given growing public demands for transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership.
The EACC urged MCAs to maintain independence in their oversight roles and strengthen integrity mechanisms to protect public resources and uphold devolution gains.
