NAIROBI, Kenya — The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested and charged a clerical officer attached to the Uasin Gishu Lands Office over allegations of soliciting and receiving a bribe to facilitate a land subdivision process.
In a statement issued on Monday, the anti-graft agency said the arrest followed a complaint from a member of the public who accused the officer of demanding money in exchange for processing subdivision documents.
“The EACC has arrested and arraigned a clerical officer attached to the Uasin Gishu Lands Office over allegations of soliciting and receiving a bribe to facilitate the subdivision of land,” the commission said.
Investigation and Arrest
According to EACC, investigations established that the officer allegedly demanded Sh100,000 from the complainant to facilitate the subdivision process.
Detectives further found that part of the money had already been received before the commission completed its investigations.
“The case arose from a complaint received by the Commission alleging that the officer had demanded a bribe to facilitate the subdivision process. Investigations established that he had solicited Sh100,000 from the complainant and received part of the bribe,” the statement added.
Upon completion of investigations, the commission forwarded the case file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for legal review and guidance.
The ODPP subsequently approved criminal charges against the suspect, paving the way for his arrest and prosecution.
Court Appearance
The officer was arraigned in court on Monday and charged with receiving a bribe contrary to the provisions of the Bribery Act, 2016.
He denied the charges when presented before the court.
The court granted him a cash bail of Sh30,000 or an alternative bond of Sh100,000 pending the hearing and determination of the case.
Renewed Anti-Corruption Drive
The latest prosecution comes as the EACC intensifies investigations into corruption allegations across public institutions.
Land administration offices have frequently featured in corruption complaints involving delays in service delivery, fraudulent transactions, and demands for unofficial payments.
Article 10 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, identifies integrity, transparency, and accountability among the national values and principles of governance, while Chapter Six sets ethical standards for public officers.
The Bribery Act, 2016 criminalises the solicitation, receipt, and offering of bribes in both public and private sectors, with offenders facing fines, imprisonment or both upon conviction.
Recent EACC Operations
The arrest follows a series of recent anti-corruption operations conducted by the commission.
In May, EACC arrested a Kenya Power employee accused of demanding a Sh30,000 bribe to reconnect electricity to a residential property.
The commission also recently recovered approximately Sh65.3 million in cash during a raid at the residence of a senior Nairobi County official attached to the Urban Planning Department as part of an ongoing corruption investigation.
The EACC has maintained that strengthening accountability within public institutions remains critical to improving service delivery and restoring public confidence in government agencies.
