Former Auditor General official charged over alleged forged degree certificate
A former Deputy Director of Audit at the Office of the Auditor General, Hannah Wambui Mwaura, also known as Anna Wambui Mwaura, has been charged with allegedly using a forged university degree certificate to secure public employment.
According to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Mwaura was arrested on August 4, 2026, and booked at the Integrity Centre Police Station before being released on a Sh100,000 police cash bail pending her arraignment.
The anti-graft agency said investigations established that the Office of the Auditor General advertised the position of Assistant Manager – Audit in July 2013, requiring applicants to possess at least eight years of audit experience, a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university, a Master of Business Administration or a related qualification, and professional accounting credentials.
EACC alleges that Mwaura submitted a forged Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting Option), Second Class Honours (Upper Division) degree certificate purportedly issued by Mount Kenya University on August 20, 2010, in support of her application.
The Commission said the certificate enabled her to secure the position and later earn promotion to Deputy Director – Audit.
According to EACC, Mwaura subsequently received Sh28.47 million in salaries between February 3, 2013, and May 23, 2024, through employment allegedly obtained using fraudulent academic qualifications.
Investigations further revealed that at the time she presented the degree certificate during the recruitment process, she was still pursuing her Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting Option) programme at Mount Kenya University and had not graduated.
“Upon conclusion of investigations, the Commission forwarded the investigation file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who approved charges of Forgery, Uttering a False Document, Deceiving a Principal and Fraudulent Acquisition of Public Property against the suspect,” EACC said.
Mwaura was arraigned before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court, where she pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The court released her on a cash bail of Sh450,000 or a bond of Sh1 million with a surety of a similar amount.
EACC said it will also institute civil proceedings to recover salaries and benefits allegedly obtained through the use of fraudulent academic qualifications.
“The Commission will institute civil proceedings to recover salaries and benefits unlawfully obtained through fraudulent academic qualifications,” the agency said.
The anti-graft body urged ministries, departments, agencies and county governments to strengthen the verification of academic and professional certificates during recruitment and promotion processes to prevent the appointment of unqualified persons.
EACC also warned members of the public against using forged academic documents, saying such offences will continue to be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.