Mount Kenya University: Hannah Wambui Mwaura Charged with Forgery

• Hannah Wambui Mwaura, a former Deputy Director of Audit at the Office of the Auditor General, was charged with forgery related to her academic credentials.
• Mwaura used a forged university degree certificate to secure employment, which she claimed was for her Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting Option) programme from Mount Kenya University.
• The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) will institute civil proceedings to recover Sh28,468,754.14 in unlawfully obtained salaries and benefits.

The EACC's investigation revealed that Mwaura was still a student at Mount Kenya University when she presented the forged degree certificate during the recruitment process.

A former Deputy Director of Audit at the Office of the Auditor General, Hannah Wambui Mwaura alias Anna Wambui Mwaura, was arrested and charged with forgery related to her academic credentials. The arrest and subsequent charges stem from an investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) into allegations that Mwaura used a forged university degree certificate to secure employment. According to the EACC's findings, in July 2013, the Office of the Auditor General advertised a position requiring applicants to possess specific qualifications, including a Bachelor's degree from a recognized university. However, it was discovered that Mwaura submitted a forged degree certificate purportedly awarded by Mount Kenya University on 20 August 2010, which she claimed was for her Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting Option) programme.

The EACC's investigation revealed that Mwaura was still a student at Mount Kenya University when she presented the forged degree certificate during the recruitment process. This discovery led to further scrutiny, which ultimately resulted in the Commission forwarding the investigation file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for approval of charges. The DPP approved charges of Forgery, Uttering a False Document, Deceiving a Principal, and Fraudulent Acquisition of Public Property against Mwaura. She was subsequently arraigned before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court, where she pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The unlawful employment of Mwaura resulted in her receiving Sh28,468,754.14 in salaries from 3rd February, 2013 to 23rd May, 2024. The EACC will institute civil proceedings to recover the unlawfully obtained salaries and benefits. This case highlights the importance of thorough background checks and verification of academic credentials during recruitment processes to prevent fraudulent appointments and protect public funds.

This development highlights the importance of thorough background checks and verification of academic credentials during recruitment processes to prevent fraudulent appointments and protect public funds.

Source: Original reporting via Capital FM