Former Machakos Chief Officer Charged Over Alleged Forged Academic Certificates

Former Machakos County Government Chief Officer Joseph Mutwiwa Munyao has been charged with allegedly using forged academic certificates to secure employment in the county government.

Munyao was arrested by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Monday, August 31, 2026, and arraigned at the Machakos Law Courts on Tuesday.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The court released Munyao on a cash bail of Sh1 million or an alternative bond of Sh2 million with a surety of a similar amount.

According to EACC, investigations established that Munyao allegedly forged a Bachelor of Commerce degree certificate in Accounting, purportedly issued by the University of Nairobi in 2004.

The commission also alleged that he forged a Certified Public Accountants (CPA) Final Examination Certificate dated June 2019.

EACC said Munyao allegedly used the certificates to secure his appointment as Chief Officer for Industry and Innovation in the Machakos County Government.

He held the position from January to November 2023.

During his tenure, he earned salaries amounting to Sh1,585,967.90, according to the anti-corruption agency.

Following the investigations, EACC forwarded the inquiry file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for consideration.

The DPP approved charges against Munyao for fraudulent acquisition of public property, uttering a false document and forgery of academic certificates.

The charges relate to allegations that Munyao presented the certificates to secure employment and benefits from the county government.

EACC said it would pursue the recovery of the money and other benefits allegedly obtained through the use of the disputed academic qualifications.

“EACC will also institute civil proceedings to recover the salaries and other benefits allegedly obtained through the use of the fraudulent academic qualifications,” the commission said in a statement.