Four public officials have been arrested in Kwale and Bungoma counties after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) accused them of demanding and receiving bribes from members of the public.
The suspects include two Kenya Power security officers arrested in Diani, Kwale County, and two law compliance and enforcement officers working for the Bungoma County Government in Kimilili.
The arrests come as bribery remains a common form of corruption in public offices, especially in areas where citizens deal directly with government officials.
According to the EACC’s 2024 National Ethics and Corruption Survey, giving bribes was the most commonly witnessed form of corruption in public offices. The survey involved 5,960 adults drawn from all 47 counties between November and December 2024.
The findings showed that 52.1% of those surveyed had witnessed people giving bribes, while 41.9% had witnessed officials receiving them. Overall, 30.5% said they had encountered bribery, an increase from 25.7% recorded in 2023.
The survey further showed that 18.9% of respondents had been directly asked to pay a bribe, while another 10.7% said they had been indirectly expected to make such payments.
The average amount paid as a bribe also rose from Sh3,694 in 2023 to Sh4,878 in 2024. Kwale was among the counties where people seeking services were found to face a relatively high chance of being asked for a bribe.
In Kwale, EACC officers from the Lower Coast Regional Office in Mombasa arrested Kenya Power security officers Joseph Dena and Fredrick Odhiambo following a complaint that they had demanded Sh100,000.
The two allegedly accused a complainant of illegally using electricity and demanded the money in return for helping him secure his release and avoid possible legal action.
“In Kwale, EACC officers from the Lower Coast Regional Office in Mombasa arrested the Kenya Power officers, Joseph Dena and Fredrick Odhiambo, after they allegedly demanded a Sh100,000 bribe from a complainant. The officers are alleged to have accused the complainant of illegally using electricity and asked him to give them the money so that they could help secure his release and ensure that he would not face legal action.”
The commission said detectives then mounted an operation that led to the arrest of the two officers as they allegedly received Sh50,000 from the complainant.
They were taken to Mombasa Central Police Station, where they recorded statements before being released on cash bail of Sh20,000 each as investigations continued.
In Bungoma, the EACC arrested Victoria Mala Nafula and Elizabeth Nafuna Lukhale, who work as law compliance and enforcement officers for the county government.
The two were accused of demanding and receiving money from a cyber café operator in Kimilili Municipality.
The commission said the officers allegedly wanted the business operator to pay them so she could continue running the cyber café without a licence. They also allegedly threatened to close the business if she failed to hand over the money.
“In Bungoma, the Commission arrested county government officers Victoria Mala Nafula and Elizabeth Nafuna Lukhale after they were alleged to have demanded and received a bribe from a cyber café attendant in Kimilili Municipality. The officers allegedly asked the business operator to give them money so that they could allow her to continue operating her business without a licence. They also allegedly threatened to close the business if she failed to give them the bribe.”
The two county officers were arrested during an operation while they were allegedly receiving money from the complainant.
They were first taken to the EACC Western Regional Office in Bungoma before being transferred to Bungoma Police Station, where they spent the night.
The suspects were released the following morning on cash bail of Sh20,000 each.
The EACC said the arrests were part of its continued efforts to deal with corruption in public service, particularly cases involving officials who interact directly with members of the public.
The commission has also called on Kenyans to report demands for bribes and other corrupt conduct by public officials, saying complaints will be handled within the law.
“The EACC urges members of the public to report cases of bribery demands and other acts of corruption committed by public officials. The Commission assures members of the public that their complaints will be handled in accordance with the law.”
The four officials remain under investigation, and the allegations against them have not been tested in court.