Nairobi — Four staff members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) are set to face multiple criminal charges, including forgery, following the approval of their prosecution by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

This comes after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) established that they used forged academic certificates to secure employment at the electoral body.

According to the EACC, the suspects, including three assistant election officers and a clerical officer, submitted falsified Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificates to fraudulently obtain their positions.

Investigations by the EACC confirmed that the academic documents of the four IEBC employees were not genuine, as verified by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).

"Investigations established that the suspect submitted a forged KCSE certificate from NEP Girls Secondary School to secure employment at IEBC as an assistant election officer whose minimum requirement was a KCSE certificate," stated EACC.

Investigation reports forwarded to the DPP by the Commission also recommended the filing of a civil suit against the four IEBC employees in order to recover salaries fraudulently earned by the suspects.

Recent investigations have unveiled a troubling trend within Kenya's public sector, including the use of forged academic certificates by government officials to secure employment.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has been at the forefront of addressing these malpractices, particularly within the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

In January 2025, another senior IEBC official, Kenneth Kiplangat Tonui, faced charges for allegedly forging a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificate to obtain employment as a driver.

Over a span of approximately 13 years, Tonui is accused of fraudulently acquiring salaries totaling Sh9,281,655.

He was charged with multiple counts, including forgery, and was released on bail pending trial.