Eldoret College Director Arrested by DCI Over Fake Certificates That Cost Graduate His Job
Upon completion, the student was awarded a diploma certificate which he believed to be genuine and later used it to secure employment.
Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested the director of a college in Eldoret over allegations of issuing forged academic certificates to unsuspecting students, in a case that has once again exposed the growing menace of fake academic credentials in the country.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 5, the DCI identified the suspect as the director of Region Group College in Eldoret town. The arrest follows investigations that were launched after a complaint was lodged by the Public Service Commission (PSC).
“Detectives from the DCI Headquarters have arrested the director of a college in Eldoret over allegations of issuing forged academic certificates that left an unsuspecting victim jobless,” the DCI said in the statement.
According to the investigative agency, the inquiry began during the routine authentication of academic and professional certificates submitted by a job seeker as part of a verification process by the PSC.
Detectives established that the suspect had allegedly misrepresented his institution as being affiliated with Moi University to convince the student to enroll for a Diploma in Business Management. The student, believing the college was legitimate and its programmes recognized, enrolled and completed the course.
Upon completion, the student was awarded a diploma certificate which he believed to be genuine and later used it to secure employment.
However, during a mandatory authentication exercise conducted by the Public Service Commission, the certificate was flagged and found to be a forgery. As a result, the graduate not only lost his job but also faces potential blacklisting from future public service employment.
Following the findings, the PSC reported the matter to the DCI, prompting detectives to open investigations into the operations of the college.
The DCI says that once investigations were concluded, the case file was forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which reviewed the evidence and approved charges against the suspect. Among the charges he is expected to face include making a false document contrary to the Penal Code, obtaining money by false pretences, and other related offences.
The DCI confirmed that the director was trailed and arrested in Eldoret Town and is currently being processed ahead of his arraignment in court.
The case comes amid rising concern over the proliferation of unaccredited colleges and issuance of fake academic papers across the country. The DCI has in recent months intensified its crackdown on such institutions, warning that many young Kenyans are being duped into paying hefty fees for worthless papers.
As cases of forged academic certificates become increasingly common, the directorate has urged Kenyans to verify the accreditation and legitimacy of academic institutions with the Ministry of Education and the Commission for University Education before enrolling in any programme.
Members of the public have also been encouraged to report any suspected cases of academic fraud to the nearest police station or directly to the DCI through its toll-free hotlines.
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