Police probe Karen Nyamu over claims of forged KCSE certificate

By  Hilary Kimuyu

Correspondent

Nation Media Group

The National Police Service (NPS) is examining remarks by nominated Senator Karen Nyamu in which she claimed to have helped a political supporter forge a Form Four certificate to secure recruitment into the police service.

In a statement, police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said the service had come across a video in which a senior nominated politician recounted how a supporter used fraudulent academic documents in an attempt to join the National Police Service (NPS).

“The National Police Service has come across a video in which a senior nominated politician states that she was aware of a supporter who used a fake certificate in an attempt to join the National Police Service as a recruit constable,” Mr Nyaga said.

The service termed the remarks as “regrettable and unacceptable”, noting that they had been made by a lawmaker and legal practitioner.

The statement came a day after Ms Nyamu recounted the incident during an interview with a local radio station last week, saying she had wanted to reward members of her campaign team who could not qualify for advertised jobs because they lacked secondary school certificates.

The senator said the incident occurred after her unsuccessful bid for the Nairobi Woman Representative seat in 2017, when she was subsequently appointed a director at Nairobi Water.

She said she had shared job advertisements with members of her campaign team, many of whom came from informal settlements, only to discover that some lacked the academic qualifications required.

“My team, the people who had been campaigning for me, are mostly people who campaigned for others for me. So I wanted to reward them because there was an advertisement for jobs. So I forwarded to them, apply for this, then they couldn’t because they did not have Form Four certificates,” she said.

Ms Nyamu then described how she attempted to help one of her supporters join the police service despite the lack of the required qualifications.

“I can even tell you of a recent case where I tried to help someone get into the police force, a very staunch campaigner of mine; they are even known. They were, I think, 28, 29 years na hawana Form Four cert. Tukakarabati (we forged) a Form Four certificate, because I had this chance and I really had to give back,” she said.

The senator said the recruit proceeded to Kiganjo Police Training College but was subsequently caught during investigations into fraudulent academic documents.

She said the individual later called her from a police station after the forgery was discovered.

“Do you know walienda Kiganjo for training, kidogo kidogo, I don’t know; investigations are usually done. We didn’t know. Do you know alinipigia simu akiwa, ati ako police station,” she recounted.

Ms Nyamu added that about 18 recruits were removed from the training programme after the discovery of fake academic papers.

“And the way everyone was happy…but so and so walishikwa because of forgery. Wote ambao walikua na fake papers wakatolewa, they were about 18,” she said.

The NPS confirmed that cases involving fraudulent academic documents had been identified at a police training college, leading to the expulsion of the recruits concerned.

The service, however, did not provide further details about the individual described by Ms Nyamu or indicate whether she had been summoned or formally placed under investigation.

Police said they were going through the video as they reiterated their commitment to ensuring integrity in the recruitment process.

“Members of the public are advised that the NPS treats the matter of recruitment with the utmost seriousness and deploys strict verification protocols. Any dishonest attempts, including the use of fake documents, cannot succeed,” Mr Nyaga said.

The service added that it would continue to discharge its recruitment responsibilities professionally and within the law, ensuring the process remained thorough, accountable and transparent.

The remarks have raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the alleged forgery, including when the documents were prepared, who was involved and whether any criminal proceedings were instituted against those implicated.

It remains unclear whether the police investigation will extend to establishing the role played by Ms Nyamu, who, in her account, said she helped the supporter obtain the forged certificate.

The controversy has also prompted calls for police to take further action beyond examining the video.

Lawyer Ndegwa Njiru criticised the police response, arguing that the service should establish whether the remarks disclosed possible criminal conduct.

“Your 24 October 2026, statement is not a response; it is a cover-up,” Mr Ndegwa said in a statement.

His remarks were a criticism of the police response and do not establish that the service has attempted to conceal any wrongdoing.

The key question now is whether investigators will take formal steps to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged forgery and determine whether any offences were committed.

The latest incident adds to a series of controversies that have kept Ms Nyamu in the public eye since she entered politics.

A lawyer by profession, she was nominated to the Senate by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in 2022 after previously contesting the Nairobi Woman Representative seat in 2017.

Her political career has frequently been accompanied by public disputes and criticism over her conduct, with some incidents prompting apologies or disciplinary proceedings.

In December 2022, Ms Nyamu was involved in a public altercation at a Mugithi music event in Dubai involving musician Samuel Muchoki, popularly known as Samidoh, and his wife, Edday Nderitu.

Videos circulated on social media showing a confrontation at the event, prompting criticism and calls for disciplinary action by members of her party.

The UDA disciplinary committee subsequently summoned her over the incident, saying her conduct had brought the party into disrepute. Ms Nyamu later attributed her behaviour that evening to alcohol and said she intended to stop drinking.

In February 2023, she was ordered to leave the Senate chamber after appearing in a sleeveless outfit that was deemed inconsistent with the House dress code.

More recently, she faced criticism over remarks made during a Senate sitting on March 25, 2026, concerning a young female student visiting Parliament under a school volunteering programme.

Her comments prompted Speaker Amason Kingi to rule that the remarks were inappropriate and fell short of the standards expected of a senator.

On May 5, Ms Nyamu tendered an unreserved apology to the Senate, the student, her family and the public, acknowledging that her remarks had fallen short of the dignity and respect expected of a state officer.

“I acknowledge that the utterances were inappropriate and fell short of the dignity, decorum and respect expected of a State Officer, particularly towards a young female learner,” she said in her apology.

The incident triggered further criticism from leaders and organisations concerned with the dignity and protection of children, with some calling for additional accountability measures.

In June 2025, she also apologised following public backlash over comments she made concerning the death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody. She retracted her earlier remarks after they were criticised.

The latest controversy, however, differs from the earlier incidents because it raises questions about possible criminal conduct involving academic documents and recruitment into a national security institution.

Forgery and the use of fraudulent documents can attract criminal liability under Kenyan law. Section 349 of the Penal Code provides for the offence of forgery, while other provisions may apply depending on the nature of the document and how it was used.

Whether any offence was committed, and who may be liable, will depend on the evidence gathered and the applicable law.

Ms Nyamu's account has drawn attention to the importance of verifying academic credentials during police recruitment, particularly where successful candidates are expected to meet specific educational requirements.

The NPS has maintained that its recruitment procedures include strict verification measures and that candidates found to have presented fraudulent documents are removed from the process.

The service has not publicly detailed whether the latest review of the video has resulted in a formal investigation targeting Ms Nyamu, a summons or a referral to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

Neither has the police statement announced criminal charges against the senator.

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