A County Assembly official was arrested on Monday for allegedly using multiple forged documents to secure public employment, marking the latest in a series of similar cases targeting document fraud in government institutions.
In a statement released by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Wednesday, September 10, the anti-graft agency detailed the arrest of David Geoffrey Ombiro, an Administrative Officer at Kisii County Assembly, over extensive document falsification allegations.
EACC investigations revealed that Ombiro systematically altered his birth certificate, changing his year of birth from 1967 to 1973, before using the falsified document to obtain a National Identity Card reflecting the amended details.
The suspect is further accused of forging additional critical documents, including a Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Personal Identification Number, a National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) card, and a National Social Security Fund (NSSF) card, to align with his falsified identity.
These fabricated documents were subsequently submitted to the Kisii County Assembly as part of his employment application, enabling him to secure his position as an administrative officer fraudulently.
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Following completion of investigations, EACC forwarded the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who approved multiple charges against the suspect.
“(1) count of deceiving principal contrary to section 41(2) as read with section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, 2003, II. Five (5) counts of forgery contrary to section 345 as read with section 349 of the Penal Code, and III. Five (5) counts of uttering a false document contrary to section 353 of the Penal Code,” EACC noted.
The suspect was processed at the EACC South Nyanza Regional Office before being transferred to Kisii Central Police Station, where he spent the night in custody.
On Wednesday morning, he was arraigned at the Kisii Anti-Corruption Court, where he entered a not guilty plea to all charges.
The court released Ombiro on a bond of Ksh150,000 with one surety of a similar amount, or cash bail of Ksh70,000.
Ombiro's arrest represents the latest development in EACC's sustained campaign against document fraud within public institutions. Several high-profile cases have been concluded in recent months.
The Nairobi Anti-Corruption Court recently convicted Lawrence Masinde Barasa, a former ICT Assistant at Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC), of fraudulently obtaining public funds totaling Ksh7,123,963 by using a forged academic certificate.
Similarly, EACC has arraigned Dorothy Jepkoech Kiptoo, an Office of the Auditor General employee, for allegedly using a counterfeit academic certificate to secure public employment.
Investigations showed that Kiptoo had forged a KCSE certificate and presented it as an authentic document issued by the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) to gain employment.
In another case, Teresia Chepkemoi Chepkwony, a Revenue Collection Assistant at Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company Ltd, was arraigned for similar offenses.
EACC investigations revealed that Chepkwony had presented a forged KCSE certificate, claiming it was genuine KNEC documentation, which enabled her to secure employment and earn salaries and benefits of Ksh7.59 million.
