DCI boss Mohamed Amin speaks at Mazingira Complex on February 13, 2025. /DCIDetectives arrested the four at a Mombasa hotel from where they were carrying out the alleged activities under the name of a bogus university.
Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Amin Mohamed said in a statement on Thursday that the suspects, who include two foreigners, had been accommodated at a beach hotel.
"The four were found issuing Masters and PhD degrees to excited participants who had received training for only three days," Amin said.
"Some of the fraudulently awarded degrees include three Master of Business Administration (Leadership and Management) and two PhDs in Leadership (Hon. Causa)."
Amin said the suspects were arraigned before Shanzu Law Courts and charged with conferring degrees without accreditation of foreign universities contrary to Section 28(2) as read with Section 5 of the Universities Act.
"The accused persons entered a plea of not guilty where they were given bond of Sh400,000 with similar surety and must be done on oath before the duty court or a cash bail of Sh300,000," he said.
Amin added that passports of the two foreigners were deposited in court awaiting the mention of their case on February 18, 2025.
He said the suspects include two Kenyans, an American and a Pakistani.
Amin said the lot was apprehended by officers from Bamburi police station who were tipped off about the dubious activities of the group.
The top detective said no effort will be spared in apprehending suspects who fraudulently issue education certifications.
Using a fake certificate is considered a criminal offense under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act (ACECA), with individuals found guilty facing potential penalties including fines, imprisonment, or both.
The EACC, which is the agency mandated to investigate and take action against perpetrators of such cases, may be required to recover any salary or benefits earned through the use of a fake certificate.
The development comes at a time when EACC has ramped up efforts to crack down on rampant use of fake degree certificates in public service.
Outgoing head of anti-graft agency EACC, Talib Mbarak revealed in January that the public service has the largest number of individuals with fake degree certificates.
An EACC report covering the period between April 1 and June 30, 2024, indicated that fraudulent documents were used in schools, colleges, parastatals and county governments, and in some incidences, IEBC.