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A senior Kenya Power official arrested for demanding a bribe of Ksh100,000 from a complainant in Kwale County has been charged.

According to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the accused, Evans Otieno Ochieng, received an advance payment of Ksh70,000 from the complainant to reconnect a disconnected power meter at Pine Grove Estate.

Otieno, who is a debt controller at the Ukunda KPLC substation, is said to have disconnected the power at the estate on October 18, 2021, due to high bills accumulated.

“Today, EACC, through its Lower Coast Regional office in Mombasa, arrested an employee of Kenya Power and Lighting (KPLC), based at Diani, Kwale County, who demanded a bribe of Kes. 100,000 and received an advance payment of Kes. 70,000 from the complainant in order to reconnect a disconnected power meter at Pine Grove Estate,” the statement by EACC reads in parts.

He was later arrested by EACC officers from Mombasa after thorough investigations were conducted following a receipt of the claims.

EACC spokesperson Eric Ngumbi stated that Otieno’s arrest was facilitated after the anti-graft agency received approval from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga to charge him.

“Investigations commenced upon receipt of allegations that Evans Otieno Ochieng, the KPLC Kwale Debts Controller, based at Ukunda Office, solicited a financial benefit of Ksh100,000/= as an inducement to reconnect a power meter,” Ngumbi stated.

#CaughtInCorruptionThisWeek
ARREST OF A SENIOR KPLC OFFICIAL IN KWALE COUNTY
Today, EACC, through its Lower Coast Regional office in Mombasa, arrested an employee of Kenya Power and Lighting (KPLC), based at Diani, Kwale County, who demanded a bribe of Kes. 100,000 and received… pic.twitter.com/GGbly0atH8

— EACC (@EACCKenya) March 21, 2024

While appearing before Anti-Corruption Magistrate Lillian Lewa of the Kwale Law Courts, the accused denied the charges.

He was released on a bond of Ksh1 million or cash bail of Ksh350,000.

The case will be brought for mention on April 8, 2024, whereas the hearing has been set for June 25, 2024.

“The suspect was arraigned before Kwale Law Courts where he denied the charges, before Anti-Corruption Magistrate Hon. Lillian Lewa. He was released on a bond of Kes. 1 million or cash bail of Kes. 350,000. Case to be mentioned on 8th April 2024 while the hearing has been set for 25th June 2024,’ EACC added.

Following the development, EACC encouraged members of the public to continue exposing public officials extorting money from them to offer services.

“Members of the public are urged to continue exposing public officials extorting money from them in order to offer public services,” EACC added.