The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has intensified its crackdown on academic fraud within the public sector, charging a former Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) Registry Clerk, Liza Amara Anyoso, with fraudulently using a fake university degree. Ms. Anyoso was arraigned before Senior Principal Magistrate Ondieki at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, where she pleaded not guilty to three counts: forgery, uttering a false document, and deceiving a principal.

According to the EACC, Ms. Anyoso presented a falsified Bachelor of Commerce degree certificate, purportedly from the University of Nairobi, to secure her position at the water company. Investigations by the commission revealed that this fraudulent document enabled her to unlawfully earn over KSh 7.8 million in salaries. She was released on a cash bail of KSh 80,000 or an alternative bond of KSh 1 million with one surety. The case is scheduled for mention on Wednesday, October 23, 2025.

Historical and Political Context

This arrest is part of a broader effort by the EACC to combat the pervasive issue of forged academic certificates in Kenya's public service. The problem has been a long-standing concern, with various government agencies and state corporations undertaking verification exercises of employee academic documents, particularly for those recruited since 2012.

In 2021, the then Director-General of the Kenya National Qualifications Authority stated that approximately one-third of all academic certificates in Kenya were fake. More recently, in January 2025, the Public Service Commission (PSC) reported that 449 civil servants were dismissed for using fake academic certificates to secure employment and promotions. This represented 52.3 percent of the total number of employees identified with fraudulent certificates.

Laws, Policy, and Governance

The EACC's actions are guided by its mandate to uphold integrity in public service and prosecute those who obtain employment or benefits through fraudulent means. The Public Service Commission (PSC) has consistently directed public institutions to authenticate academic and professional certificates of their staff and to terminate the services of any officer found using forged documents for appointment or promotion.

In May 2025, the government announced the formation of a special multi-agency task force, comprising institutions such as the EACC, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), and the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA). This task force aims to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in the use and production of fake academic and professional certificates and to recover over KSh 460 million lost through fraudulent employment.

Stakeholders and Testimonies

EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud has highlighted the commission's commitment to recovering salaries and benefits illegally earned by government employees with fake certificates, stating that the amount targeted for recovery exceeds KSh 460 million. Head of Public Service Felix Koskei has also emphasized the seriousness of academic fraud, noting that public offices account for 70 percent of cases involving fake certificates.

Employers, universities, and colleges have been implicated in the prevalence of forged certificates, with some employers reportedly aware of hiring and promoting individuals with fake credentials. The lack of a central database for verifying academic certificates has also been cited as a contributing factor to the problem.

Evidence and Data

The EACC has been actively investigating cases of academic fraud. Since 2022, the commission has received and investigated 549 reports of forged academic and professional certificates. Of these, 134 investigation files have been completed, 85 forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions, and 33 are pending in court. Twenty cases have been concluded in court, resulting in 13 convictions and seven acquittals.

Risks and Implications

The widespread use of fake academic certificates poses significant risks to the integrity and quality of public service in Kenya. It undermines meritocracy, erodes public trust, and can lead to unqualified individuals holding critical positions, potentially compromising service delivery. The EACC has warned that if the issue of fake academic papers is not addressed effectively, Kenya risks being blacklisted as a country known for forged qualifications, which could impact its global reputation and the employability of its citizens abroad.

Unknowns and Controversies

While the EACC has made significant strides in prosecuting individuals with fake certificates, the full extent of the problem remains unclear. There are still many cases under investigation, and the process of authenticating certificates across all public institutions is ongoing. The effectiveness of the newly formed multi-agency task force in expediting investigations and prosecutions will be crucial in addressing this systemic issue.

Timeline and Next Steps

• Wednesday, October 8, 2025: Liza Amara Anyoso charged at Milimani Anti-Corruption Court.
• Wednesday, October 23, 2025: Mention date for Liza Amara Anyoso's case.
• Ongoing: EACC investigations into numerous other cases of forged academic certificates in the public service.
• Ongoing: Implementation of the multi-agency task force to coordinate investigations and prosecutions.

What to Watch

The public will be keenly watching the progress of Ms. Anyoso's case and other similar prosecutions by the EACC. The effectiveness of the multi-agency task force in streamlining the verification process and ensuring accountability will be a key indicator of the government's commitment to eradicating academic fraud. Furthermore, the efforts to recover illegally earned salaries and benefits will be closely monitored.