Nairobi County Commandant Japheth Koome says undercover detectives had been trailing the suspects and even purchased a fake Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificate at a cost of Sh20,000/MIKE KARIUKI
NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 12 – Police in Nairobi on Tuesday evening raided a building in downtown Nairobi where fake academic certificates and title deeds were being processed.
Several people involved in the illegal business were arrested during the three-hour raid involving a multi-agency security team on Mfangano Street.
Nairobi County Police Commandant Japheth Koome says undercover detectives had been trailing the suspects and even purchased a fake Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificate at a cost of Sh20,000.
“This is the kind of crime we are out to fight at whatever cost. We cannot allow this to happen,” a visibly agitated Koome warned.
“We must secure our country from these criminals.”
Koome says the suspects had almost all crucial ‘certificates’ one needs in life among them those of leading higher learning institutions in the country.
“A person just needs to come to this place having a few thousand shillings and get out as a graduate,” the police boss pointed out while holding assorted certificates.
“Some people have acquired certificates indicating they are trained clinical officers… these people are out there prescribing medicines to innocent Kenyans yet they are not trained!”
The multi-million shilling illegal business involves ‘well connected’ cartels targeting Kenyans who want “to easily elevate their status. They deny those who have acquired genuine certificates their fair chance.”
The suspects have been designing and printing the certificates, some of which police caution pose a security threat.
For example, you just need to pay less than Sh30,000 to acquire a birth certificate.
“What if an Al-Shabaab member gets such a certificate?” Koome posed.
“We are not going to allow this business to thrive… all those arrested will go to court to answer to charges of all the wrongs they have been committing.”
He urged Kenyans and specifically employers to be alert while admitting new people in their organisations some of who could have acquired fake police clearance certificates to cover up their criminal nature.
“Somebody may have committed a robbery or is even a rapist but come here to get a fake police clearance certificate,” he cautioned while saying there is a need to authenticate such important documents.
Some of those seeking the fake papers include politicians. Others are those seeking employment.
“The problem is fuelled by the fact that employment in Kenya is not talent or passion-driven,” a senior officer, who sought anonymity told Capital FM News.
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