A clearing agent who demanded a Ksh2.9 million bribe from church officials has been jailed or ordered to pay a hefty fine.
Philip Mutua Kilonzo has been sentenced to two years in prison or a fine of Ksh3 million after being convicted on bribery and fraud charges. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) announced the conviction in a statement on Friday, April 4, detailing that Kilonzo was found guilty of two counts of requesting a bribe and one count of obtaining money by false pretenses.
The court heard that on October 4, 2020, Kilonzo demanded a bribe of Ksh2.9 million from officials of the United African Evangelical Ministry and Grace Children’s Home. His goal, according to the ODPP, was to influence the cancellation of alleged tax dues owed to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
“Kilonzo was sentenced to pay a fine of Ksh1.5 million or serve two years in prison for demanding the bribe,” the statement noted.
The court also imposed an additional Ksh1.5 million fine for separate counts of soliciting the same bribe on multiple occasions between October 3 and October 8, 2020.
In addition to the bribe demands, Kilonzo was fined Ksh50,000 or an eight-month prison sentence for fraudulently obtaining Ksh20,000. The ODPP explained that on October 1, 2020, he deceived church officials into giving him the money by claiming it was for travel expenses from Busia to Nairobi. He said he needed to meet with KRA officers to help settle a tax issue involving Grace Children’s Home.
Principal Magistrate Celesa Okore, who presided over the case, ruled that all sentences would run concurrently, meaning Kilonzo will serve them at the same time rather than separately.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by Kenyan authorities to crack down on bribery and corruption, especially when it targets religious or charitable organizations. The ODPP has reaffirmed its commitment to prosecuting individuals who exploit public institutions for personal gain.
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