A woman from Laikipia County was on Monday arraigned at the Nanyuki Law Courts to face a string of fraud and personation charges after prosecutors alleged that she fraudulently secured a teaching position at Doldol Primary School using a false identity and went on to unlawfully draw salaries for nearly a year.
The accused, Caroline Makena Kinyua, who is also identified in court documents by the alias Kairuthi Caroline Kubai, denied six criminal counts that include fraudulent acquisition of public property, forgery, and personation. Prosecutors told the court that Ms. Kinyua impersonated a legitimate teacher by presenting falsified academic certificates, a forged Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) PIN, and a counterfeit national identity card to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) in order to obtain employment.
Alleged Fraud Spanning a Year
According to the charge sheet, the offences occurred between May 2023 and May 2024. During this period, Ms. Kinyua is accused of unlawfully collecting Ksh 292,130 in salaries from the TSC payroll. The prosecution argued that this amounted to the diversion of public funds under false pretenses, contrary to the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act as well as the Penal Code provisions on fraud and forgery.
Prosecutors described the scheme as a calculated plan to exploit public resources and underscored the seriousness of the charges, pointing out that fraudulent schemes of this nature undermine the integrity of Kenya’s education sector and rob genuine job seekers of opportunities.
Bail Terms and Court Proceedings
Presiding magistrate Mark Ekubi acknowledged the gravity of the charges but ruled that Ms. Kinyua would be released on cash bail of Ksh 150,000. This included an additional Ksh 50,000 on top of a Ksh 100,000 bail previously granted in connection with the same matter.
The magistrate ordered that the case proceed to trial, with witnesses from the Teachers Service Commission expected to testify on how the alleged deception was executed within the employment and payroll systems.
Prosecution Evidence
The prosecution team disclosed that it will rely heavily on testimony from Laikipia Sub-County TSC Director, Mellen Gesemba, who was allegedly approached by the accused on May 8, 2023, under the false identity. Alongside oral testimony, the state is expected to present a bundle of documentary evidence including:
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Falsified academic certificates
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Forged personal identification documents
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Employment and payroll records
Prosecutors say these records will show how Ms. Kinyua misled officials and wrongfully obtained salary payments intended for another individual.
Possible Penalties if Convicted
If convicted, Ms. Kinyua faces custodial sentences and fines under Kenya’s anti-corruption and criminal statutes. The matter also highlights persistent gaps in verification and vetting processes at the Teachers Service Commission, with the prosecution arguing that stronger internal controls could have prevented the alleged fraud from running undetected for almost a year.
The case will continue in Nanyuki, where the trial is expected to shed further light on the alleged misuse of Kenya’s education employment system.