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 August 31, 2026, and arraigned at the Machakos Law Courts on 1st August 2026. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The court released him on a cash bail of KSH 1 million or an alternative bond of KSH 2 million with a surety of a similar amount.
EACC investigations revealed that Munyao allegedly forged a Bachelor of Commerce degree certificate (Accounting Option), purportedly issued by the University of Nairobi in 2004, and a Certified Public Accountants (CPA) Final Examination Certificate dated June 2019.
The Commission further established that he used the certificates to secure appointment as Chief Officer, Industry and Innovation, a position he held from January to November 2023.
During this period, he earned salaries totaling Kes1,585,967.90.
Upon completing its investigations, EACC forwarded the inquiry file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who approved charges of fraudulent acquisition of public property, uttering a false document and forgery of academic certificates.
EACC will also institute civil proceedings to recover the salaries and other benefits allegedly obtained through the use of the fraudulent academic qualifications.
