The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arraigned a former senior Garissa County official for allegedly forging academic credentials to fraudulently secure public employment. Khadija Abdullahi Bare, the former Chief Protocol Officer in the Garissa County Government, is accused of submitting a falsified University of Nairobi degree to obtain the high-ranking county job.
According to the EACC, investigations were initiated following a report that Bare had presented a counterfeit Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Political Science, purportedly from the University of Nairobi. The Commission’s probe revealed that the certificate was not genuine and had not been issued by the institution.
The EACC’s findings established that Ms. Bare used the forged certificate to gain employment in the Garissa County Government, where she served for several years and earned a total of KSh6,825,266.40 in salaries and benefits. The Commission forwarded its report to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which subsequently approved multiple charges against her.
Ms. Bare was arrested on June 12, 2025, and was formally arraigned before the Garissa Law Courts on June 17. She faces several charges including fraudulent acquisition of public property, deceiving a principal—contrary to Section 41(2) as read with Section 48(1) of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, 2003—alongside forgery and uttering a false document under the Penal Code.
The accused pleaded not guilty to all charges and was released on a cash bail of KSh100,000 or an alternative bond of KSh500,000.
The case highlights growing concerns over the use of forged academic papers in securing public service jobs in Kenya. The EACC reiterated its commitment to ensuring integrity in the public sector and warned that it would continue to pursue individuals who engage in fraudulent practices to unlawfully access public resources.
The matter will return to court for mention as investigations continue into the scope and impact of the alleged forgery on county operations.
