For a long time, it has been suspected that many job-seeking Kenyans forge certificates and lie during interviews to secure jobs.
The vice was confirmed on Thursday, July 27 when Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) officials disclosed five prevalent methods used by Kenyans to secure employment using dishonest means.
Appearing before the National Assembly Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee, EACC officials lifted the lid on the prevalence of forgery cases in both the national and county governments and revealed five methods employed by Kenyans to beat the system.
According to the commission's findings, some Kenyans were falsifying their certificates by modifying their high school grades on their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) papers to meet the entry requirements for higher learning institutions.
The commission also revealed that some Kenyans admitted to universities but performed poorly in their courses forge their grades in order to improve their job prospects.
EACC also revealed that some university graduates alter their degrees/diploma certificates to be more 'attractive' in the job market.
"Some change from Second Class Lower Division to First Class or Second Class Upper Division," EACC stated.
The commission also revealed that diploma and certificate holders forge their academic certificates to secure employment or gain admission to institutions offering postgraduate courses.
Conclusively, some Kenyans impersonate others by using their academic certificates to either apply for admission to higher-learning institutions or seek employment.
"This is where the fraudsters use qualifications belonging to other persons," EACC added.
The commission advised employers to be more keen when hiring graduates and ensure the certificates presented are authentic.
EACC suggested that job adverts should require applicants to have their academic certificates certified by the issuing institutions.
Universities and colleges were tasked with establishing strong internal controls that would enable early detection of fake academic certificates submitted by prospective students seeking admission for undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
"Any university or other learning institution that may be engaged in collusion to issue academic certificates to unqualified persons, including individuals who have not undertaken or completed studies should desist from doing so and strictly adhere to prescribed standards," EACC added.
