Former Machakos Chief Officer charged with alleged forgery of academic certificates

Former Machakos County government Chief Officer Joseph Mutwiwa Munyao has been charged with allegedly using forged academic certificates to secure a senior position in the devolved unit’s administration.

Munyao was arrested by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Monday, August 31, and arraigned at the Machakos Law Courts on Tuesday, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The court granted him a cash bail of Ksh.1 million or an alternative bond of Ksh.2 million with a surety of a similar amount.

According to the EACC, investigations established that Munyao allegedly forged a Bachelor of Commerce degree certificate in Accounting purportedly issued by the University of Nairobi in 2004.

He is also accused of forging a Certified Public Accountants (CPA) Final Examination Certificate dated June 2019.

The anti-graft agency said Munyao allegedly used the two certificates to secure appointment as Chief Officer, Industry and Innovation, a position he held between January and November 2023.

During his tenure, Munyao received salaries amounting to Ksh.1,585,967.90, according to the EACC.

The commission said it completed investigations into the alleged forgery and forwarded the inquiry file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who approved charges of fraudulent acquisition of public property, uttering a false document and forgery of academic certificates.

EACC said it will separately institute civil proceedings seeking to recover the salaries and other benefits Munyao allegedly obtained through the use of the fraudulent academic qualifications.

The former county official will now face trial over the allegations.