Clearing agent jailed for soliciting Sh2.9 million bribe from church officials

A clearing agent was fined Sh3 million, or in default, face two years in prison for attempting to solicit a bribe of Sh2.9 million.

At the Anti-Corruption Court in Nairobi, Philip Mutua Kilonzo was convicted on two counts of requesting a bribe and one count of obtaining money by false pretenses.

Kilonzo was sentenced to pay a fine of Sh1.5 million or serve two years in prison for demanding a Sh2.9 million bribe from officials of the United African Evangelical Ministry and Grace Children’s Home on October 4, 2020.

His intent was to reportedly influence the writing off of alleged taxes due to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).

The court also sentenced him to another fine of Sh1.5 million for soliciting the same bribe amount on several occasions between October 3 and October 8, 2020, from officials of the United African Evangelical Ministry.

Additionally, Kilonzo was fined Sh50,000 or face 8 months in prison for obtaining Sh20,000 under false pretenses.

The court heard that On October 1, 2020, he misled officials from the United African Evangelical Ministry into giving him Sh20,000, claiming it was for travel expenses from Busia to Nairobi.

This was allegedly for a meeting with KRA officials to resolve a tax dispute between KRA and Grace Children’s Home.

Principal Magistrate Celesa Okore ruled that Kilonzo should serve all sentences concurrently.