DIANI, Kwale – The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has raised concerns over a growing wave of impostors who are fraudulently posing as Commission officials to extort money from public servants and business operators in several counties, including Kitui, Makueni, and Machakos.
EACC Spokesperson Eric Ngumbi, speaking in Diani, Kwale, expressed alarm at the escalating problem of impostors masquerading as EACC or other law enforcement agents, conducting fake investigations and coercing their victims into paying bribes to avoid supposed legal troubles.
In recent months, the phenomenon has taken root in the Lower Eastern region, with 24 cases reported across Kitui, Makueni, and Machakos counties.
According to Ngumbi, the fraudsters have been targeting a range of individuals, from county officials and school principals to National Government Administration Officers.
“These criminals are exploiting the fear of legal repercussions to extort money from their victims, who are often too quick to engage in bribes without verifying the authenticity of these so-called officials,” Ngumbi stated.
The impostors, he noted, are primarily pretending to be from the EACC’s Lower Eastern Regional Office in Machakos or the Nairobi Headquarters.
Their targets are diverse: school principals are being harassed over alleged illegal fee charges and financial mismanagement, while county officials involved in revenue collection and National Government officers are being accused of corruption in administration.
Ngumbi further revealed that five suspects were recently arrested in Kitui County for impersonating EACC officials.
The group allegedly conducted a bogus “arrest” of a senior county official and even staged a search operation at her residence using a fake search warrant.
The accused, currently in custody, face multiple charges including impersonation, conspiracy to commit a felony, abduction with intent to confine, forgery, and attempts to extort by threats. The court is expected to rule on their bail status soon.
The EACC has urged the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the Commission.
Ngumbi emphasized the need for caution, highlighting the readiness of some individuals to bribe their way out of trouble, which often emboldens these fraudsters.
“The ease with which some Kenyans are willing to pay off these criminals suggests that they may have something to hide,” Ngumbi added.
