Written By Lisa Murimi
A former employee of the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) has been sentenced to an eight-year prison term or fined Ksh 5 million by the Anti-Corruption Court in Nairobi.
The ruling, delivered on Tuesday, August 20, concluded a case that highlighted a severe breach of public trust.
The ex-employee, who served as an Assistant Inspector II, was found guilty of fraudulently acquiring academic certificates, which he used to secure his position at KEPHIS.
The court heard that he falsely claimed to hold qualifications from Baraka Agricultural College and Kilifi Institute of Agriculture, which were later proven to be fabricated.
Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzyoki imposed a fine of Ksh100,000 or a 12-month imprisonment for the fraudulent acquisition of academic certificates.
Additionally, a mandatory fine of Ksh4.7 million—the total amount earned by the employee during his tenure—was imposed, with a five-year prison term in default.
The fraudulent activities took place between June 2013 and April 2021, during which the employee earned a monthly salary based on forged documents.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) initiated the investigation after a complaint from the KEPHIS Managing Director, leading to the employee’s arrest and eventual conviction.
