DPP Withdraws Forgery Case Against GAWASCO MD Mohamed Dolal Due to Lack of Evidence
Lack of Evidence Leads to Case Withdrawal
The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has withdrawn the forgery case against Mohamed Dolal, the Managing Director of GAWASCO (DC), citing a lack of evidence.
In a letter dated March 1, 2024, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Ms. Grace Murungi, instructed Senior Assistant Director Bonny Okemwa to enter a nolle prosequi, indicating a decision not to prosecute, under section 87(a) of the Criminal Procedure Code after a thorough review of the available evidence.
Mr. Dolal was arrested on January 25 by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives on allegations of falsifying his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificate to secure admission to the University of Nairobi (UoN).
A source revealed that Mr. Dolal allegedly altered his Grade D to a C+, a prerequisite for university admission.
Earlier this year, the Public Service Commission (PSC) made a startling revelation, bringing to the forefront that more than 2,000 public servants possess counterfeit academic and professional qualifications.
PSC Chairman Ambassador Anthony Muchiri has identified the most affected ministries, including Interior and Energy, along with prominent parastatals such as Kenyatta National Hospital and various public universities.
Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairman Ambassador Anthony Muchiri underscored the urgency for swift action, calling on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to apprehend and prosecute individuals responsible for the widespread use of forged academic and professional qualifications.
EACC Chief Executive Officer Twalib Mbarak affirmed the agency’s commitment to vigorously recovering salaries and benefits earned by officials who secured their positions through fake qualifications.
The investigation, initiated in October 2022, focused on ministries, state departments, and semi-autonomous government agencies. About 2,067 forgery cases discovered linked to key government institutions.
Entities like the Ministry of Interior, Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), and the Geothermal Development Corporation under the Ministry of Energy were notably affected, according to the PSC.
The investigative process spanned the past decade, involving meticulous scrutiny of academic records and rigorous verification procedures in collaboration with examination bodies.
The report revealed various forgery tactics, including altered KCSE mean grades, counterfeit certificates, and falsified credentials, as well as discrepancies like mismatched certificate numbers and manipulated degree classifications.
PSC recommended forwarding all cases to the DCI for thorough prosecution, emphasizing the recovery of ill-gotten gains. Implicated individuals are to be denied benefits, including pensions and allowances.
The comprehensive report has been submitted to both the DCI and the EACC, with the aim of upholding integrity and accountability in the public service sector.