Juja Member of Parliament, George Koimburi, has found himself at the center of a controversy after being charged with six counts of forging academic certificates, some of which date back to 1994. The charges are serious and cover multiple instances of alleged academic fraud.
According to the charges, Koimburi forged a Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) certificate between November and December of 1994 to obtain a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). This specific certificate was crucial in advancing his educational qualifications and may have played a role in his political career. The alleged forgery also extends to a more recent period, where he is accused of forging a certificate of participation in the East African Universities Accession Project, an initiative linked to Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). This forgery is said to have occurred between September 2011 and April 2012.
Adding to the gravity of the accusations, Koimburi is also charged with forging a certificate from JKUAT’s School of Human Resource Development within the same period. The allegations don’t end there; he is accused of presenting these forged certificates to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) in March 2021, including the fraudulent KCSE and JKUAT certificates.
Koimburi was arrested on Tuesday morning and subsequently appeared before the Kiambu Law Courts on Wednesday, where he faced the charges. His lawyer, Ndegwa Njiru, raised concerns that this arrest may be linked to recent remarks the MP made regarding the misuse of public funds in the African Union Commission (AUC) elections. This has added a layer of political intrigue to an already explosive case, leading some to speculate that the arrest might be politically motivated, given the timing of Koimburi’s public statements.
The case has drawn significant attention, especially in light of Koimburi’s role as a public figure and the implications of his actions on his credibility and position. As investigations continue, many are watching closely to see how this legal battle unfolds and whether it will have further ramifications on his political career.
