Police in Gilgil subcounty in Nakuru County are investigating forgery cases involving 37 Forest Ranger recruits who were undergoing training at the National Youth Service (NYS) Paramilitary Academy.
The recruits were arrested on Saturday following an official request by the Commanding Officer Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Appolinary Mwandigha to the Kenya National Examinations Council on June 27, 2023.
Mwandigha sought authentication of 2700 Academic certificates and results slips of all the recruits who formed the largest cohort of KFS rangers.
After the verification exercise, it was established that 37 copies of certificates and results slips submitted to KNEC were not genuine.
According to a police officer who sought anonymity, the recruits are being held at Gilgil Police Station pending further investigation and prosecution.
He said they would be charged with forgery under Section 345 of the Penal Code which defines forgery as making of a false document with intent to defraud or deceive.
The police report also indicated that the suspects would further be charged with Making a document without Authority and uttering false Documents.
The police officer said the suspects would be presented in court on Monday application for custodial orders to enable investigations to be completed.
This year, KFS recruited the largest lot of rangers who were to be trained at NYS College in Gilgil. President William Ruto has reiterated the government's commitment to increasing forest cover by 2032.
Normally Forest rangers are recruited at the Kenya Forestry Training College in Londiani, Kericho County.
