Nairobi, Kenya – May 12, 2025 – A major scandal has rocked the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NAWASCO) following the arrest of one of its long-serving employees, Edwin Amagola Munyeti, over allegations of using a forged academic certificate to land a government job and fraudulently pocket over Ksh9 million in salaries.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) confirmed the arrest of Munyeti, who has been working at NAWASCO since 2010, after uncovering that he allegedly used a forged Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificate, purportedly issued by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), to secure his position at the state-run utility company.
According to a detailed report by EACC, investigations were launched following credible intelligence that cast doubt on the authenticity of Munyeti’s KCSE certificate. The Commission alleges that the document was neither issued by KNEC nor valid for any form of academic or professional qualification.
EACC further revealed that based on this falsified academic qualification, Munyeti fraudulently secured employment and went on to earn a staggering Ksh9,080,267 from March 2010 to December 2023 — all drawn from taxpayer-funded coffers.
“This is a classic case of forgery and abuse of public trust,” a senior official at EACC said. “The suspect managed to unlawfully benefit from public resources over a span of more than a decade through fraudulent means.”
Upon conclusion of its probe, the EACC forwarded the investigation file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who reviewed the findings and gave consent to proceed with formal charges. The DPP recommended that Munyeti be charged with multiple criminal offenses, including forgery, deceiving a principal, and fraudulent acquisition of public property.
The suspect was apprehended and taken to the EACC Headquarters at Integrity Centre, Nairobi, for formal processing. He is scheduled to appear before the Anti-Corruption Court on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, where he is expected to take a plea.
Fraud in Public Sector Employment Under Scrutiny
Munyeti’s case is the latest in a growing list of high-profile arrests by EACC targeting individuals who have used fake academic documents to gain employment in the public sector. The Commission has been cracking down on fraudulent recruitment practices, particularly where forged documents are used to obtain public jobs and financial benefits.
According to EACC data, a worrying trend has emerged in recent years where individuals secure senior positions and promotions using forged certificates, raising questions about the vetting procedures of human resource departments across public institutions.
“This arrest serves as a stern warning to those who may have used similar methods to access public service. We are enhancing our efforts to work closely with institutions like KNEC to detect and eliminate forgery at the recruitment stage,” the EACC official added.
EACC Calls for Routine Verification of Certificates
Following the arrest, the EACC has called on all public institutions to undertake a comprehensive audit of their employees’ academic and professional qualifications. The Commission emphasized the need for enhanced verification processes during hiring to avoid the infiltration of unqualified personnel into critical public service positions.
KNEC, the national body mandated to issue and verify academic certificates, also issued a statement warning the public and employers against falling victim to forged documents. The council reiterated that it offers certificate verification services to any employer upon request and urged organizations to take advantage of these services to curb academic fraud.
Public Reactions
The arrest has triggered a wave of public anger and disbelief, especially from taxpayers who feel betrayed by individuals exploiting government loopholes to enrich themselves fraudulently.
“It’s heartbreaking to think someone without the required qualifications held a position meant for a deserving candidate — and for 13 years!” said one Nairobi resident. “How many more people like this are out there?”
As Munyeti prepares to face charges in court, pressure is mounting on NAWASCO and other public institutions to come clean on how such a glaring forgery went undetected for more than a decade.
If convicted, Munyeti faces not only a lengthy jail term but also the possibility of being compelled to refund the illegally acquired millions — a move that the EACC says is necessary to recover stolen public funds.
