A former employee of Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company Limited has been sentenced to either pay a fine of more than KSh5 million or serve five years in prison after being found guilty of using forged academic credentials to obtain employment and unlawfully benefit from public funds.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) announced that Mr. Okandah William John, who worked as a Revenue Officer at the utility company, was convicted by the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on several charges, including forgery, uttering a false document, deceiving a principal, and fraudulently acquiring public property.
According to investigations conducted by the anti-graft agency, Okandah secured employment using a fake Bachelor of Commerce degree in Accounting allegedly issued by the University of Nairobi.
EACC said the forged certificate enabled him to gain employment and receive salaries and benefits amounting to KSh4,749,597 during his tenure at the public institution.
“Mr. Okandah secured employment at the public utility company using a forged Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting Option) degree purportedly issued by the University of Nairobi,” the Commission stated.
The court, in its judgment delivered on May 28, 2026, emphasized the importance of integrity and honesty in public service, noting that ethical conduct is crucial in protecting public resources and maintaining accountability within government institutions.
The judgment further highlighted that integrity helps reduce cases of fraud and corruption while strengthening public confidence in public institutions.
On June 3, 2026, Hon. Celesa Okare sentenced the former officer to pay a mandatory fine equivalent to the amount unlawfully acquired, KSh4,749,597, or serve a two-year jail term in default.
“The Court further imposed fines of Kes100,000 for each of the remaining counts, with a default sentence of 12 months’ imprisonment,” EACC noted.
The sentences will run concurrently, bringing the total financial penalty to KSh5,049,597 or a five-year custodial sentence should he fail to pay the fines.
The conviction is the latest in EACC’s efforts to promote integrity in public service and ensure that individuals who obtain public employment through fraudulent means are held accountable.
“The conviction highlights EACC’s continued commitment to protecting public resources, upholding integrity in public service, and ensuring accountability in recruitment and employment processes within public institutions,” the Commission said.
