A Calm Morning Turns into a Court Drama
It was a quiet morning at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court, but the air quickly filled with murmurs as a Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company employee stood before the magistrate.
Her name — Teresia Chepkemoi Chepkwony — is now at the centre of a case that has shocked many Kenyans.
For more than 10 years, Chepkemoi reportedly lived a lie, using a forged KCSE certificate to work and earn a living from a job she was never qualified for.
The Rise Built on a Fake Document
Investigators revealed that Chepkemoi presented a certificate claiming she had sat for her secondary exams at Boron Secondary School and scored a C+.
To her employers, she appeared competent and hardworking. She climbed roles from Technician to Revenue Collection Assistant, earning over KSh 7.5 million during her tenure.
But behind the promotions and paychecks was a secret — a certificate that never existed in the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) database.
How the Lie Unravelled
According to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the deception was discovered after a new background audit at Nairobi Water flagged inconsistencies in employee records.
When KNEC was contacted for verification, it confirmed that the certificate number Chepkemoi used did not belong to her — and the grades were falsified.
The discovery led to a swift arrest and charges of:
-
Forgery
-
Uttering false documents
-
Deceiving a principal
-
Fraudulent acquisition of public property
Facing Justice
In court, Chepkemoi appeared calm as the charges were read. She pleaded not guilty.
The magistrate granted her cash bail of KSh 100,000 or bond of KSh 500,000 with one surety, and ordered her to surrender her travel documents.
Her case will be mentioned again on September 3, 2025, when the prosecution will present further evidence.
Public Outrage and Reflection
The story has drawn mixed reactions across social media.
Some sympathized with her—wondering whether desperation or job scarcity pushed her to forge the document.
Others were furious, calling for tougher penalties to deter similar fraud in public institutions.
“This is why many qualified youths remain jobless while fake papers get people hired,” one Kenyan commented online.
A Lesson for All
Beyond the courtroom drama lies a deeper message about integrity, opportunity, and accountability.
Chepkemoi’s story may serve as a warning to those tempted to take shortcuts, but also as a reminder of how weak verification systems can cost the public millions.
For institutions like Nairobi Water, the case has become a wake-up call to strengthen recruitment processes and ensure every credential is thoroughly checked.
Final Word
As Chepkemoi awaits her fate, her story reflects a painful truth — lies may offer temporary success, but the truth always catches up.
For many Kenyans struggling to find work, this saga highlights the importance of honesty even when opportunities seem scarce.
In the end, it’s not the grade on a paper that defines success, but the integrity behind it.
