A driver at the Nairobi Water Company has been ordered to pay Ksh7.5 million after being found guilty of using a forged certificate to secure employment. Milimani Anti-Corruption Court Magistrate Celesa Okore found Kelly Gichuri Muiruri guilty of four charges in a judgment delivered on October 29, 2026. Muiruri was convicted for using a forged Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificate to secure employment at the utility firm.
According to the court, Muiruri presented a KCSE certificate indicating he had scored a mean grade of C plain in the 2002 examination, when he actually managed a D plain. The court established that he had received salaries between November 2016 and December 2023, amounting to Ksh6,742,673, which he was ordered to pay in compensation. Failure to pay this amount would result in a four-year prison sentence.
In addition to the compensation, Muiruri was fined a total of Ksh800,000 across the four counts. The fines include Ksh300,000 for fraudulent acquisition of public property, Ksh200,000 for uttering a false document, Ksh200,000 for deceiving a principal, and Ksh100,000 for presenting a forged certificate. These fines carry additional prison terms if unpaid.
The case was investigated by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) following a report that Muiruri had used a forged certificate to secure a job at Nairobi Water Company. The EACC forwarded the file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, recommending prosecution.
Muiruri was convicted of fraudulent acquisition of public property, uttering a false document, deceiving a principal, and presenting a forged certificate. However, he was acquitted of a separate charge of forgery. The court's decision was made after a thorough investigation and evaluation of the evidence presented.
The use of forged certificates to secure employment is a serious offense in Kenya, and the courts have been cracking down on such cases. In this instance, the court sent a strong message by imposing a significant fine and prison term on Muiruri. The case serves as a warning to others who may be tempted to use forged documents to secure employment.
The case highlights the importance of integrity and honesty in the job application process. Employers rely on the accuracy of the information provided by job applicants, and using forged documents can have serious consequences. The court's decision emphasizes the need for job applicants to be truthful and transparent in their applications.
Key points
- A Kenyan driver has been ordered to pay Ksh7.5 million or serve four years in jail for using a forged KCSE certificate to secure employment at Nairobi Water Company.
- The driver, Kelly Gichuri Muiruri, was convicted of four charges, including fraudulent acquisition of public property and uttering a false document.
- The case was investigated by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and prosecuted by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
