Authorities from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have detained Philip Kipsoi Kiyeng, the director of Region Group College in Eldoret, on allegations of issuing counterfeit academic certificates.
The arrest followed a complaint from the Public Service Commission during a routine verification of academic qualifications. Investigations revealed that Kiyeng falsely claimed the college had an affiliation with Moi University to convince a student to enroll for a Diploma in Business Management.
After completion, the student received what was believed to be a valid diploma and presented it to their employer. However, during a subsequent certificate authentication exercise, the qualification was exposed as fraudulent, resulting in the victim's dismissal from their job.
Legal Proceedings and Public Warning
- The DCI forwarded the case to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which approved charges including making a false document under Sections 347(a) and 349 of the Penal Code.
- Kiyeng was being processed for court arraignment at the time of the announcement.
- The DCI cautioned the public to thoroughly verify the accreditation status of educational institutions before enrollment to avoid falling victim to similar fraud.
Forgery of academic certificates remains a significant challenge in Kenya, with gaps in verification processes enabling fraudulent credentials to circulate undetected across various sectors.
