Ministry Officials Jailed for Kshs.17m Fraud

16:03:2021: Two civil servants will serve three years in jail for embezzling Kshs. 17, 800,000.00 in government funds. A third will pay a fine of Kshs. 500,000.00.

The Anti-Corruption Court at Milimani in Nairobi found the three employees of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology guilty of conspiracy to defraud their employer through irregular withdrawals of public funds between 2008 and 2010. Their arraignment and conviction followed investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

EACC established that Perminus Njoroge Kamau, Dorothy Katunga Kisavi and Kepha Oseko Mareri conspired to circumvent accountability procedures and forwarded a report of its investigation findings with appropriate recommendations to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Kamau, an Accounts Assistant who also served as the head cashier, was convicted on three counts of stealing by a person employed in the public service contrary to Section 280 of the Penal Code (to serve two-and-half years); fraudulent acquisition of public property contrary to Section 45(1) (a) as read with section 48(1) of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act (to serve two years); and conspiracy to defraud the government contrary to Section 317 of the Penal Code (to serve two years).

He was further convicted on three alternative counts of stealing by a person employed in the public service contrary to Section 280 of the Penal Code (to serve three years); stealing by a person employed in the public service contrary to Section 280 of the Penal Code (to serve three years); and stealing by a person employed in the public service contrary to Section 280 of the Penal Code (to serve three years). The sentences are to run concurrently.

Kisavi, an accountant, was convicted for conspiracy to defraud the government contrary to Section 317 of the Penal Code and fined Kshs. 500,000

Mareri, also an accountant, was convicted on four counts: conspiracy to defraud the government (to serve two years); fraudulent acquisition of public property (to serve 2 years); an alternative count of conspiracy to defraud the government (to serve two  years); and another alternative count of stealing by a person employed in the public service (to serve three years). The sentences are to run concurrently.

Chief Magistrate L.N. Mugambi acquitted three other co-accused – Thomas Kubende Lunani, Zuwena Zainabu and Catherine Wanjiru. The imposition of mandatory custodial sentences should serve as a deterrent to persons engaging in corruption.