The court heard that Edwin Amakola Munyeti used a forged KCSE certificate to secure employment. PHOTO | EACC
Nairobi, May 14, 2025
A former employee of the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NAWASCO) has been arraigned at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on charges of academic forgery and fraudulently obtaining over Ksh.9 million in public funds over a 13-year period.
Edwin Amagola Munyeti, who served as a Marketing Assistant at NAWASCO, was arrested by officers from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Monday following a long-running investigation into his employment credentials.
Appearing before Principal Magistrate Celesa Okore, the accused was charged with multiple offenses, including forgery, uttering a false document, and fraudulent acquisition of public property. The charges stem from allegations that Munyeti used a forged Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificate — purporting it to be a valid document issued by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) — to gain employment at the public utility firm in March 2010.
According to the prosecution, Munyeti’s fraudulent employment led to the unlawful payment of Ksh.9,080,267 in salary from public funds between 2010 and 2023.
“The accused presented fake academic credentials, which enabled him to secure employment and remain on the payroll for over a decade,” the prosecution, led by Thelma Nanjay, told the court.
The EACC revealed that the discrepancies were unearthed after a joint verification exercise with KNEC, which established that the certificate submitted by Munyeti did not originate from the council and was not associated with any legitimate candidate record.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) subsequently approved five criminal charges, among them forgery and acquisition of public property through fraudulent means.
Munyeti, however, pleaded not guilty to all charges and requested the court for leniency in setting bail terms, stating that he is a family man and currently unemployed.
“I respectfully urge this court to consider my financial status and the fact that I have a family depending on me,” Munyeti submitted through his legal counsel.
The prosecution did not object to the release of the accused on bail, noting that there was no immediate risk of interference with witnesses or evidence.
Magistrate Okore granted the accused cash bail of Ksh.200,000 or an alternative bond of Ksh.500,000 with one surety of a similar amount.
The case was scheduled for mention on May 26, 2025, when the court will issue pretrial directions and confirm the service of all prosecution documents to the defense.
Meanwhile, EACC has issued a public statement reinforcing its commitment to weeding out academic fraud in public institutions and ensuring that all individuals in government positions meet the legal and ethical requirements for their jobs.
“We will continue to pursue individuals who have obtained public office through dishonest means. Integrity in public service starts with honesty in credentials,” said an EACC spokesperson.
The case has sparked wider conversations about the prevalence of fake academic qualifications in Kenya’s public sector and the need for a robust and centralized verification system.
