In a surprising twist, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) made a significant arrest that has stunned the nation. A senior official of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) was arrested on Monday morning, October 14, on charges of forging her academic certificates.
EACC officials arrested Caroline Sabiri Manyange, the Manager responsible for Boundaries Delimitation at IEBC. The arrest happened at her home in Nairobi West after an extensive investigation revealed the official had used forged academic papers to secure her position. EACC Spokesperson, Eric Ngumbi, confirmed the arrest, saying the suspect is currently held at the EACC Integrity Centre Police Station for processing, with plans to arraign her in the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court.
Fake University Degree at the Heart of IEBC Scandal
EACC’s investigations showed that Caroline had forged a Master of Arts degree in Population Studies, which she claimed to have earned from the University of Nairobi on May 9, 2004. This fraudulent degree allowed her to secure a promotion within the IEBC in 2012. The promotion resulted in her earning a cumulative salary and benefits exceeding Ksh37 million. According to the anti-corruption body, this constitutes fraudulent acquisition of public funds.
After a thorough investigation, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) agreed with the EACC’s recommendations to press forgery charges against the official. The charges align with section 345, as read with section 349 of the Penal Code, which addresses forgery offences. Additionally, she faces charges of uttering a false document, which is a violation of section 353 of the Penal Code.
Government Seeks to Recover Over Ksh37 Million
EACC has also revealed plans to file a civil suit to recover the over Ksh37 million in salaries and benefits earned by the accused based on fraudulent qualifications. “Further to the criminal prosecution, EACC will proceed to file civil proceedings in court to recover all the salaries and benefits amounting to over Ksh37 million,” EACC stated.
The arrest of the IEBC official has once again brought attention to the growing problem of forged academic qualifications in public offices. Earlier this year, on February 15, EACC announced its intention to investigate claims that certain state agencies were shielding employees who had falsified academic documents. The watchdog warned that it would take action against any government body that failed to report such incidents.