Fredrick Odiero
A red flag has been raised over the high proliferation of fake certificates into the job market especially in the public service.
The Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) is concerned with the high number of fake certificates used by some of the managers to land plum positions in the government.
The government agency revealed that more than a third of civil servants acquired their qualification certificates through unorthodox methods.
KNQA Director General, Dr. Juma Mukhwana, noted that the vetting has already affected key ministries in the Kenya government.
He said that the authority has approached government institutions to have the credentials of successful candidates for certain positions forwarded to them for scrutiny.
Mukwana indicated that the qualifications dilemma often emerges due to high level politics that come in to play during hiring periods.
He said the authority is now working with County Governments to ensure that a process of verifying academic credentials has been streamlined.
The director general said they are now receiving papers from government departments and institutions of people they intend to hire so that they are scrutinized and vetted before they are absorbed.
KNQA Council Chairman, Dr Kilemi Mwiria, noted that the authority is at the moment working with relevant arms in order to deal with the problem.
“We are working with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to crackdown on the culprits.’ He said.
Mwiria indicated in Kisumu that the targeted individuals were holding positions they are not qualified to.
He said Part of the purge will extend to learning institutions that have been accused of awarding certificates to unqualified individuals.
The chairman further noted that his team was determined to eliminate cheating cases both in high school and tertiary institutions.
‘It will ensure that we elevate the quality of workforce being released to the labour market every year.’ he said.
