A Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) official in Kisumu has been arrested after allegedly demanding money from a construction company to clear its tax arrears and facilitate the issuance of a Tax Compliance Certificate.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) identified the suspect as Hughes Obilo, an officer attached to the Debt Refunds Department in Kisumu.
According to the commission’s statement issued on Tuesday, the company’s tax arrears had initially been placed at Sh4.5 million before the amount was revised to Sh142,230.
EACC said Obilo allegedly demanded Sh100,000 from the complainant to have the outstanding amount cleared from the iTax system.
The complainant pleaded with him to lower the amount, prompting the official to reduce the demand to Sh30,000.
“The complainant pleaded with the suspect to reduce the bribe, which the suspect accepted,” the EACC said.
Obilo later received the Sh30,000, after which EACC detectives arrested him.
He was taken to Kisumu Central Police Station and was later released on a Sh30,000 cash bail, according to the commission.
EACC said the arrest forms part of its efforts to deal with bribery and corruption at points where members of the public seek government services.
The commission said it would continue pursuing officials accused of using their positions to seek personal financial gain.
“EACC remains committed to fighting bribery and corruption at service delivery points and will continue to take firm action against individuals who abuse public office for personal gain,” the commission said.
“EACC will not relent in the fight against corruption,” it added.