A former employee of the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) has been handed a hefty fine after being found guilty of fraudulently obtaining over Ksh.7 million in salaries and benefits using a forged academic certificate.
Nairobi Anti-Corruption Principal Magistrate Charles Ondieki convicted the former ICT Assistant, identified as Barasa, on three counts: fraudulent acquisition of public property, uttering a false document, and deceiving a principal.
The court established that Barasa forged a Diploma in Information Technology certificate purportedly issued by the Eldoret Polytechnic. He used the fake document to secure employment at NCWSC, a position that enabled him to unlawfully draw salaries and allowances amounting to Ksh.7,123,963.
In his ruling, Magistrate Ondieki imposed a fine of Ksh.100,000 on Barasa for fraudulent acquisition of public property. Additionally, he ordered a mandatory fine of Ksh.14,347,926 twice the amount the accused illegally obtained, as stipulated under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act. In default of payment, Barasa will serve two years in prison.
On the charge of forgery, the court acquitted Barasa due to insufficient evidence. However, he was convicted on the third count of uttering a false document and fined Ksh.100,000 or face one year’s imprisonment. On the fourth count of deceiving a principal, he was fined a further Ksh.100,000 with a default sentence of one year in prison.
The magistrate directed that in the event of default, all the prison terms would run consecutively.
The judgment highlights the court’s firm stance against the use of fraudulent documents to secure employment in public institutions. The case also underscores the wider issue of academic forgery in Kenya, where cases of individuals obtaining jobs and promotions using fake certificates have raised concerns about integrity in public service.
Barasa has the right to appeal both his conviction and the sentence within 14 days.
