A former senior official at the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation has been fined over Sh3 million or face a four-year jail term after being found guilty of using a forged academic certificate to get a high-ranking job.

Nairobi Anti-Corruption Court magistrate Celesa Okore convicted Noah Oketch Oluoch on two counts; fraudulent acquisition of public funds and uttering a false document, saying the prosecution had proved both charges beyond reasonable doubt.

Oluoch was accused of fraudulently obtaining more than Sh1.4 million in salary and allowances between April and August 2022 after securing employment using a forged Master of Business Administration degree certificate allegedly from the University of Nairobi.

In her judgment on Thursday, Okore ruled that the evidence clearly showed Oluoch knowingly presented the fake certificate to then REREC chief executive Peter Mbugua during his job application.

“The court finds that indeed the prosecution has proved the charge of uttering a false document. The accused was not truthful in his statements,” she said.

The magistrate fined him Sh100,000 or one year in prison for using a forged document, and a further Sh2.9 million, double the amount he unlawfully obtained or two years in jail for fraudulent acquisition of public funds.

For uttering a false document, he received another Sh100,000 fine or 12 months in prison.

Okore ordered that the sentences run consecutively, meaning Oluoch will serve the full four years if he fails to pay.

The court rejected a plea for leniency from Oluoch’s lawyer, who argued he was a first-time offender, 55 years old, and suffering from hypertension.

“No medical evidence has been put before me and therefore the court shall take that with a pinch of salt,” Okore said.

Former CEO Peter Mbugua testified that Oluoch had emerged as the best candidate during interviews with a score of 78 percent, ahead of two other shortlisted applicants.

However, his employment lasted only five months after it was discovered that the degree certificate he had submitted was not genuine. When summoned by a disciplinary committee to explain, he opted to resign while still on probation.

Peter Mbuthia, deputy registrar in charge of examinations at the University of Nairobi, told the court the institution had not issued the certificate Oluoch used.