The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested four staff members from the National Treasury’s Pensions Department after unearthing a bribery network targeting Kenyans seeking government services.
The arrests were made on Thursday, July 17, after a two-month secret investigation prompted by numerous public complaints. Many citizens had raised concerns about being frustrated or delayed when seeking help from the pensions office—unless they paid bribes.
According to EACC, the investigation exposed a deeply rooted and well-organized system where government officials were demanding bribes in exchange for faster service delivery. Those caught up in the scandal include two senior pension officers, a chief clerical officer, and an intern.
Shockingly, the suspects reportedly instructed service seekers to pay through a mobile money paybill number. Further investigations revealed that this paybill account was registered in the name of the intern’s mother. Over the past two years, this account handled transactions totaling Ksh10.5 million.
“The total amount received through the paybill account stands at Kes 10,523,044. The suspects are believed to have shared these bribes amongst themselves. The account is registered under the mother of one of the suspects, Mr. Muhando,” stated the EACC.
All four suspects have been booked at the Integrity Centre Police Station and are expected to be moved to Kilimani Police Station as the investigation continues.
This case marks another success in the EACC’s efforts to clean up corruption in public institutions. Their use of undercover sting operations is proving effective in catching culprits. Earlier this year in April, two officials from the Kakamega Civil Registration Department were also arrested for asking for bribes from people trying to access civil registration documents.
In another incident in March, EACC officers arrested a Lands Control Board official caught in the act while accepting a bribe of Ksh70,000.
The commission has vowed to continue cracking down on corrupt public officials and is urging Kenyans to report any suspicious or unethical behavior.
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