Authorities have arrested a senior government engineer in connection with a forged official document intended to extend a top ministry appointment.
Richard Kirui Bongei, Principal Engineer at the Ministry of Housing, was detained in Athi River after forensic analysis linked him to a falsified letter from the State Department of Transport.
The disputed letter, dated May 6, 2024, purported to renew Capt. Martyne Luther Lunani’s tenure as Director of Aircraft Accident Investigation at the Ministry of Roads and Transport.
The State Department of Transport flagged the document after internal checks raised concerns, forwarding it to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for expert verification.
Forensic experts confirmed the letter was counterfeit and collected it as evidence. Investigators traced the forgery back to Bongei, who has since been processed and is scheduled for arraignment.
Capt. Lunani remains at large as detectives continue their inquiry into his role in the forgery case.
The case underscores ongoing challenges in safeguarding official government documents.
Kenya has previously recorded instances where forged letters and fraudulent endorsements disrupted administrative processes, prompting government agencies to tighten verification mechanisms.
Legal experts note that such forgery cases carry significant implications for public administration. “Manipulating official letters undermines trust in institutions and can affect appointments, contracts, and compliance with regulations,” said a governance analyst familiar with civil service reforms in Kenya.