The public service is bleeding, and the wound is self-inflicted. For too long, the government has allowed a festering scandal to undermine the integrity of its institutions: public servants wielding fake academic and professional certificates.  

This is not a minor administrative oversight; it is a betrayal of public trust, a sabotage of meritocracy, and a direct assault on the aspirations of millions of Kenyans who play by the rules.  

The government must act decisively – fire every public servant found with fraudulent credentials, no exceptions. Anything less is complicity in the erosion of our nation’s moral and professional fabric.

The scale of this scandal is staggering. Reports from the Public Service Commission (PSC) and investigations by bodies like the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) have repeatedly exposed the rot.  

In 2019, the EACC flagged thousands of public servants with questionable certificates, from forged high school diplomas to dubious university degrees.

Yet, years later, many of these impostors remain entrenched in their positions, drawing salaries funded by taxpayers’ sweat.  

A 2023 audit by the PSC revealed that over 2,000 public servants could not verify their academic credentials, yet the pace of action remains glacial.

This is not just inefficiency; it’s a deliberate failure to confront a crisis that undermines governance.

Fake certificates are not a victimless crime. Every unqualified individual occupying a public office robs a deserving Kenyan of opportunity.

These fraudsters, posing as engineers, doctors, or administrators, endanger lives and livelihoods.  

Imagine a “doctor” with a forged medical degree treating patients or an “engineer” with a fake certificate overseeing a public infrastructure project. The consequences are not hypothetical – collapsed buildings, misdiagnosed patients, and mismanaged public funds are the real-world fallout of this deceit.  

The government’s reluctance to act decisively is a slap in the face to every student who toils for legitimate qualifications.

Kenya’s education system is gruelling, with millions of young people sacrificing years to earn their credentials through honest effort.  

Yet, they are forced to compete in a job market tainted by fraudsters who bypass merit with forged papers.

This breeds cynicism and despair, fueling the brain drain as qualified professionals seek opportunities abroad where their hard-earned degrees are respected.

Why should a young Kenyan graduate struggle to find a job while a fraudster with a fake certificate occupies a senior role in the public service? The government’s inaction sends a chilling message: dishonesty pays.

Excuses for inaction are unacceptable. Some argue that mass firings would disrupt public services or that verifying credentials is too complex. These are flimsy justifications.  

The PSC and EACC have the tools to verify academic documents through collaboration with universities, examination boards, and international accreditation bodies.  

Technology, including blockchain-based credential verification, could streamline the process.

Other countries, like Nigeria and India, have tackled similar scandals with aggressive purges, proving it can be done.  

Kenya’s hesitation reflects a lack of political will, not a lack of capacity. Worse, it hints at complicity – some senior officials may be protecting cronies or fearing exposure themselves.

Firing those with fake certificates is not just about punishment; it’s about restoring trust.

The public service is the backbone of governance, tasked with delivering healthcare, education, infrastructure, and security.  

When it is infiltrated by unqualified individuals, the entire system suffers. Corruption festers, inefficiency thrives, and public confidence erodes.

The path forward is clear: the government must launch a comprehensive, transparent audit of all public servants’ credentials, with a strict timeline for completion.

Those found with fake certificates must be sacked immediately, barred from future public employment, and prosecuted for fraud.  

The writer is a Communication Consultant