Ex-Machakos Chief Officer Charged with Forgery of Academic Certificates

Former Machakos County Government Chief Officer Joseph Mutwiwa Munyao has been charged with allegedly using forged academic certificates to secure employment in the county government. 

In a statement on Tuesday, September 1, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) said Munyao was arrested on Monday, August 31, before being arraigned at the Machakos Law Courts on Tuesday morning, where he denied all the charges against him.

"Munyao was arrested by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on August 31, 2026, and arraigned at the Machakos Law Courts this morning. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges," the statement read.

According to EACC, the court subsequently released the former chief officer on a cash bail of Ksh1 million or an alternative bond of Ksh2 million with a surety of a similar amount.

The agency said its investigations established that Munyao allegedly forged academic documents, including a Bachelor of Commerce degree certificate and a CPA Final Examination Certificate, which he purportedly used to support his qualifications.

"EACC investigations revealed that Munyao allegedly forged a Bachelor of Commerce degree certificate (Accounting Option), purportedly issued by the University of Nairobi in 2004, and a Certified Public Accountants (CPA) Final Examination Certificate dated June 2019," the statement added.

According to the EACC, Munyao allegedly presented the certificates to obtain a senior position in the Machakos County Government, serving as Chief Officer, Industry and Innovation, between January and November 2023.

"The Commission further established that he used the certificates to secure appointment as Chief Officer, Industry and Innovation, a position he held from January to November 2023. During this period, he earned salaries totaling Ksh1,585,967.90," the statement further read.

EACC said that after completing its investigations, it submitted the inquiry file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which approved several criminal charges against Munyao arising from the alleged use and creation of the documents.

"Upon completing its investigations, EACC forwarded the inquiry file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who approved charges of fraudulent acquisition of public property, uttering a false document and forgery of academic certificates," the statement concluded.

This comes weeks after EACC arraigned two former employees of public institutions over allegations of forging and presenting academic certificates to secure employment.

In a statement on Wednesday, August 12, the agency said the suspects, John Murira Mwicigi, a former Security Supervisor at Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC), and Kevine Agweyo Okullo, a former Technician at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital, appeared separately before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on Wednesday and denied the charges.

"The suspects, John Murira Mwicigi, a former Security Supervisor at Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC), and Kevine Agweyo Okullo, a former Technician at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital, were arraigned separately today at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court and denied the charges," the statement read.

According to investigations by the EACC, Mwicigi allegedly presented a forged Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificate purportedly issued by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), indicating that he had studied at Githaiga Secondary School despite not being a student there.

The commission said Mwicigi used the alleged forged certificate to obtain employment at NCWSC and subsequently received salaries amounting to Ksh15.86 million between 2007 and December 2023, which the EACC considers fraudulent acquisition of public property.

In the second case, Okullo is accused of submitting a forged Certificate in Refrigeration Grade II Trade Test, purportedly issued by the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), while applying for a Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technician position at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital.

"He was charged with providing false information, forgery and uttering a false document," the statement further read.

The EACC said the two suspects were each released on Ksh100,000 cash bail or a Ksh1 million bond with a surety of a similar amount.