The Anti-Corruption Court sitting in Nairobi has sentenced a former Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) employee to eight years in prison for forging academic credentials (certificates) and providing false information to a public entity.
The Office of The Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) stated that the Court has fined Zinje Juma Mwadama Ksh5 million or serve an 8-year imprisonment term in default for fraudulent acquisition of academic certificates to secure employment at the institution.
“Mwadama was fined Ksh100,000 or serve 12 months’ imprisonment, in addition to a mandatory fine of Ksh4,746,834.38 in default to serve 5 years imprisonment, which is equivalent to the net salary he earned from KEPHIS for the offence of fraudulent acquisition of academic certificate,” the ODPP said.
Prosecuting Counsel Susan Keli established that between June 26, 2013, and April 24, 2021, Mwadama, while employed as an Assistant Inspector II, fraudulently acquired a public property to wit Ksh4,746,834.38 from KEPHIS, which were his monthly salary.
Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzyoki also sentenced Mwadama to a fine of Ksh200,000 or to serve two years imprisonment on two counts of providing false information to a public entity, contrary to Section 46(1)(d) as read with Section 46(2) of the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012 Laws of Kenya.
False Information on Application Form
On February 8, 2013, at KEPHIS, Mwadama had provided false information on his employment application form.
The Court said Mwadama claimed to have a Diploma in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development from Baraka Agricultural College, and a Certificate in Agriculture with Distinction from Kilifi Institute of Agriculture claims he knew were false, intending to secure employment.
Magistrate Nzyoki ruled that all sentences will run consecutively from the date of judgment, July 30, 2024.
Also Read: 19 Government Officials Resign Over Fake Certificates Scandal
EACC Crackdown on Fake Certificates
In October 2023, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) announced that it was investigating 172 cases of alleged forgery of academic certificates.
EACC Spokesperson Eric Ngumbi said the cases included senior officials in public service who own fake degree certificates, diplomas and KCSE academic certificates.
He admitted that the issue of fake certificates is common in the country with most cases being in the county governments.
Also Read: 6 Crucial Certificates Jobseekers Should Have & How to Get them
“Today the problem of fake academic qualifications has become rampant in Kenya, it is prevalent particularly in the county governments and at the moment the commission is investigating 172 cases reports of falsification of academic qualifications,” Ngumbi said.
In February 2024, EACC directed universities to come up with strategies to end the fake degrees menace and ensure that all certificates presented are original.
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