By Tajeu Shadrack Nkapapa
The Anti-Corruption Court sitting in Nairobi has fined former Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) employee Zinje Juma Mwadama Ksh. 5 million or serve an 8-year imprisonment term in default for fraudulent acquisition of academic certificates to secure employment at the institution and providing false information to a public entity.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) Mwadama was found guilty of fraudulent acquisition of academic papers and getting a job illegally.
For the offence of fraudulent acquisition of academic certificates, Mwadama was fined Ksh. 100,000 or face 12 months of imprisonment.
Additionally, he was ordered to pay a mandatory fine of Ksh. 4,746,834.38, equivalent to his total earnings from KEPHIS. Failure to pay this fine will result in a 5-year imprisonment term.
“Mwadama was fined Ksh. 100,000 or serve 12 months imprisonment, in addition to a mandatory fine of Ksh. 4,746,834.38 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,” explained ODPP on X.
Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzyoki also imposed a fine of Ksh. 200,000 on Mwadama or, alternatively, a 2-year prison sentence for two counts of providing false information to a public entity, in violation of Section 46(1)(d) as read with Section 46(2) of the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012, Laws of Kenya.
The court heard that on February 8, 2013, Mwadama had provided false information on his employment application form, falsely claiming to possess a Diploma in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development from Baraka Agricultural College and a Certificate in Agriculture with Distinction from Kilifi Institute of Agriculture.
“On February 8, 2013, at KEPHIS, Mwadama had provided false information on his employment application form, claiming 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,” added the ODPP.
The ruling, delivered by Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzyoki on July 30, 2024, followed a thorough investigation by Prosecuting Counsel Susan Keli.