This archive report was first published on 16 September 2021.
On August 7, 2006, Davy Kiprotich Koech, then the Managing Director of the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), committed a grave offense that would eventually land him in court. He transferred Sh19.3 million from KEMRI's bank accounts to his personal accounts, using the funds meant for research at the Centre for Disease Control in Kisumu to finance his children's education abroad.
Fast forward to 2021, Koech faced three counts of abuse of office and fraudulent acquisition of public property contrary to the law. Senior Principal Magistrate Victor Wakumile, sitting at the anti-corruption court in Nairobi, found Koech guilty and fined him Sh19.6 million.
However, if Koech is unable to pay the fine, he will serve a six-year jail term. The prosecution had asked the court to order Koech to pay the fine in full or risk serving a prison term. But the convict's lawyer, Denis Maina, pleaded with the court to grant his client the liberty of paying the amount in installments.
Magistrate Wakumile ordered the scientist to pay the fine in two tranches of Sh9.8 million each starting October 15, 2021. The office of the DPP also expressed dissatisfaction with the sentence and will be seeking an enhancement of the same at the High Court.
Shortly after the ruling, Davy Koech issued a statement boasting about his achievements at KEMRI. He tweeted, “Lest you forget, I left KEMRI at its peak performance and not on its knees as is generally assumed. A PRICE TO PAY AND THE PENALTY FOR SUCCESS!”
