By Dorothy Musyoka
The Nairobi Anti-Corruption Court has convicted and sentenced former General Manager, Finance and ICT at the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC), Noah Okech Oluoch, alias Noah Oketch Oluoch, for fraudulently earning salary and allowances using a forged academic degree.
Hon. Celesa Okore found Oluoch guilty of fraudulently acquiring public property amounting to Ksh 1,455,066.05 between 1st April 2022 and 31st August 2022, having secured his position with a fake Master of Business Administration degree.
The court handed him a fine of Ksh 100,000 or, in default, one year’s imprisonment, and imposed a mandatory fine of Ksh 2,910,131.10 or, in default, two years’ imprisonment.
“Noah Okech Oluoch, aka Noah Oketch Oluoch, was found guilty of fraudulently acquiring public property in terms of salary and allowances of Ksh. 1,455,066.05 from the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation, having been employed using a forged degree certificate. On this count, the court sentenced him to pay a fine of Ksh 100,000, or in default, serve 1 year imprisonment and a mandatory fine of Ksh 2,910,131.10, or in default, 2 years imprisonment,” stated the ODPP.
“The court also found Oluoch guilty of uttering a false document. On 23rd March 2021, at the REREC headquarters in Nairobi, he knowingly presented the forged MBA degree certificate purportedly issued by the University of Nairobi to CPA Peter Mbugua, the corporation’s Chief Executive Officer, with the intent to deceive,” added the ODPP.
He was fined Ksh 100,000, or in default, sentenced to one year in prison for this count.
Additionally, Oluoch was sentenced to pay a general fine of Ksh 3 million or serve four years in prison for the broader offence of earning a salary and allowances through fraudulent means.
Hon. Okore ordered that the sentences be served consecutively, potentially resulting in a lengthy prison term if fines are not paid.
The prosecution was led by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Ms. Kanana Kimiri, who welcomed the court’s decision as a strong message against the use of forged academic qualifications in public service.