CS Ruku warns public servants against fake academic certificates

Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes Geoffrey Ruku has warned that public servants who use forged academic certificates to secure employment or promotions will face dismissal once the fraud is established.

Ruku said the government has already taken action against officials found to have presented fraudulent academic credentials, adding that the crackdown will continue as authorities seek to ensure that only properly qualified individuals remain in public service.

Speaking during an interview with a local radio and television station, the CS said dishonesty over academic qualifications compromises the integrity of government institutions and unfairly denies qualified Kenyans opportunities to serve.

He said the government is working with agencies responsible for verifying academic and professional qualifications to identify cases of forgery. Among the institutions involved are the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and the Commission for University Education (CUE).

Ruku maintained that once an individual is found to have obtained a public position through fraudulent academic documents, the length of time they have served will not shield them from disciplinary action.

The CS also addressed concerns surrounding ghost workers and irregularities in government payroll systems. He said the national government has made progress in removing non-existent employees from the public payroll, although challenges remain at the county level.

According to Ruku, some county governments continue to have employees who are paid manually without being captured in the Integrated Human Resource Information System (IHRIS).

He said his ministry is engaging the Council of Governors, the Public Service Commission (PSC), the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and other stakeholders to address the gaps.

The discussions are aimed at ensuring that all public servants are properly documented and included in recognised human resource and payroll systems.

Ruku further called on county governments to comply with human resource guidelines issued by the PSC while observing the constitutional responsibilities of different institutions involved in public service management.

On government expenditure, the CS said his ministry was committed to promoting responsible use of public resources and ensuring that taxpayers receive value from government services.

He also highlighted the importance of continuously improving the skills of public servants. Ruku said the government has allocated funds for training workers in emerging areas, including artificial intelligence and other new technologies.

He noted that the government has also expanded the digitisation of public services, while Huduma Centres continue to provide an alternative for citizens who encounter difficulties accessing services online.

Ruku also spoke about improving productivity in the public sector. He said the ministry is developing a productivity module designed to establish a stronger link between public servants’ remuneration, performance and measurable output.

According to the CS, the existing performance contracting system has in some instances become overly focused on completing paperwork rather than measuring actual results.

He said the government is working with State institutions to strengthen performance management and make it more focused on service delivery and value for taxpayers.

Ruku further disclosed that investigations into payroll and allowances fraud are being handled by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), expressing confidence that suspects linked to the cases would face legal action.

The CS reiterated that public servants are expected to uphold integrity, professionalism and accountability while delivering services to Kenyans.