The Nairobi Anti-Corruption Court has fined former Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) employee Zinje Juma Mwadama Ksh. 5 million or served 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.
Mwadama was fined Ksh. 100,000 or 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 an academic certificate.
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 worth Ksh. 4,746,834.38 from KEPHIS, which was his monthly salary.
Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzyoki also sentenced Mwadama to a fine of Ksh. 200,000 or to serve 2 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.
On February 8, 2013, at KEPHIS, Mwadama falsely 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, which he knew to be false, in an attempt to secure employment.
Magistrate Nzyoki ruled that all sentences will run consecutively from the date of judgement, July 30, 2024.
