Machakos Chief Loses Job Over KCSE Grade After Residents Raise Questions About Her Appointment

A Machakos chief has lost her job after the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Machakos nullified her appointment, ruling that the recruitment process failed to meet the required standards.

The chief, who was serving in Mitaboni Location, had obtained a D- mean grade in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), below the minimum C (Plain) grade required for appointment to the position.

The case followed complaints by residents who questioned how she had secured the job despite falling short of the academic qualifications. They also raised concerns about her connection to the area, arguing that she lived in Nguluni, Kangundo Subcounty, rather than Mitaboni.

In June 2025, some residents took to social media to express their dissatisfaction with the appointment, saying qualified candidates from the local community had been overlooked.

They questioned whether a person who did not live in the location and lacked the required academic grade could effectively serve the interests of its residents.

The court eventually nullified the appointment, finding flaws in the recruitment process and underscoring the need for public appointments to comply with established employment requirements.

The case has renewed discussion about how government positions are filled and whether recruitment procedures are consistently followed. Residents have argued that public offices should be awarded according to the relevant qualifications and rules.

The matter also comes against the backdrop of concerns over academic credentials in Kenya’s public service.

A previous report by the Public Service Commission (PSC) indicated that 2,067 public officers were suspected of having obtained government jobs, promotions or re-designations using forged academic and professional certificates.

PSC chairperson Anthony Muchiri said an exercise to verify academic documents had identified substantial cases of questionable credentials. The commission referred information involving suspected irregularities to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for further action.

In a separate case, Felix Ojwang Balambu, a former employee of Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company, was fined KSh 8.5 million after a court found him guilty of using a forged KCSE certificate to secure employment and fraudulently obtaining public funds through his salary.

The Mitaboni case highlights the importance of verifying applicants’ qualifications and ensuring that public appointments follow the requirements set for each position.

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