Anti-graft officers arrest ACC over bribe demand

Roysambu Assistant County Commissioner and her agent were on Wednesday evening arrested for demanding a bribe of Sh50,000 from a Mathare slum resident in order to return to him construction materials which had been confiscated.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) officials said Mercy Kavoi and her agent David Musyoki had demanded the money before returning the materials which had been taken away after demolishing the complainant’s Mabati structure, claiming that it was illegally constructed on a road reserve.

The demolition was coordinated and executed by the ACC and the Riverside chief in Mathare North.

After demolition, the ACC took away all the construction materials, including iron sheets and window frames, which were kept in her office.

EACC received the complaint on June 9, and immediately commenced undercover investigations.

Pleaded for mercy

In a meeting at the ACC’s office on Tuesday this week, the complainant pleaded for mercy to have the demanded Sh50,000 reduced.

“The Assistant County Commissioner accepted to reduce the amount to Sh25,000 on condition the complainant paid it in full and without further delay. The official then ordered the complainant not to deliver the money directly to her but hand it over to her agent, a Mr David Muusya Musyoki,” EACC said.

The agent was arrested when he had already received the money.

Kavoi and Musyoki were escorted to EACC Integrity Centre Police Station where they were interviewed and recorded statements on the incident.

EACC later released them on police bail pending finalisation of the remaining aspects of the investigation, including recommendation of appropriate charges to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on the matter.

According to corruption reports routinely received at EACC, this is one of many incidents where National Government Administration Officers demand bribes from members of the public to render government services.

Administrators have also been reported of being involved in other malpractices and criminal activities.

On May 16, stolen solar panels were recovered from the residence of Ithanga DCC Angela Makau in Matungulu, Machakos.

The 23 panels belonging to Ngatho Borehole Community Water Project under the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation were recovered from her farm.

The recovered panels were part of the larger project by the National government to provide water to Ithanga area and were reported to have been stolen in August 2022, bringing the project to a halt.

Handwritten papers

In another case on April 19, two administrators, both ACCs, were arrested after they were found with papers for all the eight subjects they were supposed to undertake at Nairobi Technical Training Institute in Pangani, Nairobi.

Lukhalo Pascilisa Minayo, an ACC attached to Mwala DCC had the materials on her mobile phone and a small handwritten paper. Her colleague, Nuriah Muhammud Yusuf, also an ACC attached to DCC Kasarani had examination materials on her mobile phone and a notebook with questions and answers.