Fazul faces forgery of degree certificate probe, assets seizure

Former NGO Coordination Board boss Fazul Mahamed is facing a storm of legal and political battles as investigations intensify into alleged forgery of his university degree certificate, Bachelor of Science degree from Egerton University, an inquiry that now coincides with his fresh push to overhaul Kenya’s trade union landscape, including the possible exit of long-serving COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli.

In a fresh push questioning authenticity of Fazul’s degree certificate, a petition has requested the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (Eacc) to scrutinise the validity of Fazul’s academic qualifications, which he used to secure senior public appointments over the past decade at the NGO Coordination Board and at the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA).

The probe reportedly includes tracking the provenance of the certificate, comparing signatures, and interviewing officials from the institution that purportedly awarded it.

Parallel to this, assets linked to Fazul, ranging from properties to bank accounts are said to be under review to determine whether they may be proceeds of unexplained wealth and proceeds of crime obtained irregularly using fake academic documents including the Sh56.2million advanced to him during his tenure at NGO Board.

The investigations come at a politically charged moment. Fazul has recently positioned himself as a champion of trade union reforms, accusing entrenched labour leaders of incompetence, political patronage, and misuse of workers’ resources. His most contentious target is Atwoli, who has led COTU for decades quarters a century and remains one of the most influential figures in Kenya’s labour and political spheres.

In 2024, the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) SG called for the resignation and subsequent prosecution of Fazul, then serving as the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) Director General over claims of forging his academic credentials to secure government employment.

The petitioner, Haggai Thenye Odiawo, is demanding the recovery of approximately Sh56.2 million in cumulative salaries and benefits, arguing that the funds amount to proceeds of crime allegedly obtained through the fraudulent acquisition of public office.

The demand is based on long-standing official findings that the Eacc has previously handled.

These include a letter from Egerton University, dated September 10, 2015, which allegedly confirms that Mahamed (admitted as Mahamed Yusuf) was discontinued in his third year on academic grounds and does not hold a Bachelor of Science degree from the institution.

The petition further cites a detailed investigative report by the Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ), signed by then-Ombudsman Otiende Amollo.

This report, titled “Death of Integrity,” conclusively found that Mahamed presented forged academic documents to secure the Executive Director position at the NGO Co-ordination Board.

The Ombudsman recommended that Mahamed be removed from public office, barred from future service, and investigated by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) noting that Mahamed’s actions constitute serious violations, including forgery, fraudulent acquisition of public office, and abuse of office.

“These findings are clear, unambiguous, and remain uncontested,” the petition states.

The petitioner estimates Mahamed earned Sh56.2million in salaries and allowances while leading the NGO Co-ordination Board and the immediate past Director General of the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA).

The citizen has specifically requested the EACC to undertake several immediate actions, including instituting criminal charges for presenting forged documents, fraudulent acquisition of office, and obtaining public funds by false pretense.

Crucially, the petition demands the recovery of all salaries and benefits of Sh56.2million as proceeds of crime pursuant to the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.

Finally, given the fraudulent entry into office, the petitioner calls for a full lifestyle and professional audit against Mahamed, citing the Ombudsman’s report which highlighted suspicions of further corruption, irregular procurement, and maladministration.

“Kenyans are watching the Commission closely, and prosecuting this matter will reinforce the view that there are no sacred cows, public office is not a refuge for fraudsters and that integrity is enforced consistently and impartially,”the petition stated.

The Eacc is yet to issue a public statement regarding the petition.