Former IEBC Manager for Boundaries and Delimitation arraigned on forgery of academic certificates

14:10:2024: The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) arraigned a former senior official of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) this morning on charges of forgery of academic certificates.

Ms. Caroline Sabiri Manyange, former Manager for Boundaries Delimitation at IEBC, forged her academic certificates and used the same on April 4, 2012, to secure employment at the electoral body.

She was arrested at her home in Nairobi West and escorted to EACC’s Integrity Centre Police Station for processing after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) concurred with EACC’s recommendations that she be charged with offences of forgery and uttering a false document. Later, she was arraigned before Hon. Isabella Baraza at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court, where she pleaded not guilty to all five counts.

Investigations established that Caroline Sabiri Manyange forged a Master of Arts (Population Studies) degree certificate purporting it to be a genuine certificate awarded by the University of Nairobi on 9th May 2004 and subsequently used the same to obtain a promotion at IEBC thereby earning a cumulative salary and benefits amounting to over Kes37 million, which constitutes fraudulent acquisition of public property.

The Court heard today in count one on forgery that on an unknown date and place within Kenya, with intent to deceive, Ms Manyange forged a Master of Arts (Population Studies) degree certificate number 3401 in the name of Caroline Sabiri Manyage purporting it to be a genuine certificate issued to her by the University of Nairobi at a congregation held on May 9, 2004, a fact she knew to be false.

In count two on uttering false document, the Court was told that on or about April 4, 2012 at IEBC offices in Nairobi, Ms. Manyange knowingly and fraudulently uttered the false certificate to the Human Resources and Administration Committee when they were conducting a suitability test for the position of Manager Delimitation of Boundaries and purported it to be a genuine document issued to her by the University of Nairobi at a congregation held on May 9, 2004.

In count three, also on the charge of uttering a false document, the Court was told that on December 5, 2023, at EACC offices in Nairobi, Ms Manyange knowingly and fraudulently uttered the false certificate when she attached it to her self-declaration form while seeking clearance for purposes of employment, which information she knew to be false.

She was charged in count four with giving false information to a person employed in public service. The Court heard that on May 6, 2024 at the Nyayo Police Station in Nairobi, she knowingly and fraudulently gave false information to the Officer in Charge of the Police Post by filing a complaint report for loss of a University College Certificate.

Lastly, on charge five, also on giving false information, the Court was told that on May 8, 2024, at the University of Nairobi, she knowingly and fraudulently gave false information to the Deputy Registrar Examinations of the University of Nairobi by stating in her letter of application for a letter in lieu of a lost certificate that she held a Master in Population Studies obtained in 2003 from the same university.

She pleaded not guilty to all five counts and was released on a cash bail of Kes200,000 or a bond of Kes1 million with a surety of a similar amount. The matter will be mentioned on October 28, 2024.

Commenting on the matter, EACC Spokesperson Eric Ngumbi said that further to the criminal prosecution, EACC will proceed to file civil proceedings to recover all the salaries and benefits amounting to over Kes37 million earned by the accused person based on fake academic qualifications.