MP George Sunkuyia arrested over suspected forgery of academic certificate
He is currently being processed at the EACC headquarters in Nairobi and is expected to be arraigned soon.
Detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) have arrested Kajiado West MP George Sunkuyia over allegations of forging his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificate.
The legislator was escorted to the EACC headquarters in Nairobi, where he is being processed in preparation for his arraignment.
Sunkuyia has served as the Member of Parliament for Kajiado West since 2017. He was first elected on a Jubilee Party ticket before shifting allegiance to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) amid evolving political dynamics.
The KCSE certificate holds significant weight in Kenya as a key academic credential.
It is commonly required for admission into higher education institutions and for eligibility in various professional and public service positions, including elective office.
According to the Kenyan Parliament website, Sunkuyia holds a degree in Community Development and Social Work from Mount Kenya University.
However, the legitimacy of his academic credentials is now being questioned, following the forgery allegations.
The KCSE certificate remains a crucial academic requirement in Kenya, serving as a gateway to higher education and a prerequisite for various professional roles, including eligibility to hold political office.
Kapseret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi had been under investigation since 2013 over allegations of forging academic credentials, including his KCSE certificate and a school leaving certificate allegedly from Highway Secondary School.
According to testimonies presented in court, including from Patrick Maritim, who served as principal between 2010 and 2019, Sudi was never enrolled at the institutions he claimed to have attended.
Evidence also revealed that the index numbers listed on his certificates belonged to other individuals.
However, in 2024, a Nairobi anti-corruption court cleared him of the charges, citing lack of sufficient evidence to secure a conviction.
Separately, former IEBC official Caroline Sabiri Manyange faced similar accusations after being arraigned on October 14, 2024.
She was charged with forging academic qualifications, specifically a Master of Arts degree in Population Studies, allegedly from the University of Nairobi.
The certificate was reportedly used on April 4, 2012, to obtain a job and subsequent promotion at the electoral body.
