Two suspects were on Friday arrested after attempting to swindle a director general of a state corporation north of Ksh2 million
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) confirmed the detention of the two suspects on Tuesday, November 19, after allegedly promising the DG that they would withdraw a case against him if he coughed up the money.
According to EACC, the pair's arrest was part of a larger crackdown on individuals who have crafted a well-calculated scheme to extort people in high-ranking places.
The scheme, according to the commission, entails suspects extorting money from senior government officials and private persons by claiming to have incriminating information about them.
EACC spokesperson Eric Ngumbi confirmed the incident divulging that the operation to nab the two suspects was carried out on Friday, November 15.
The duo was arrested at a Nairobi restaurant after receiving Ksh1.7 million of the Ksh2 million they had initially demanded.
"The two are believed to be part of a growing number of litigious individuals in the country posing as public-spirited citizens and passionate advocates for good governance who file petitions against government officials in Court then seek huge bribes in order to withdraw the cases," Ngumbi further revealed.
The two suspects have since been processed at the EACC Integrity Centre Police Station and later booked at Kilimani Police Station, but are currently out on bail pending further action.
In recent times, EACC has stepped up its efforts to rein in the corruption menace, especially in public parastatals.
Incidentally, the incident was similar to another one from September 2024 involving the Chairperson of the Consortium of Civil Societies.
According to the integrity watchdog, the suspect was arrested by EACC detectives at a Nairobi hotel where he was expected to receive a bribe of Ksh3 million.
As per an initial agreement, the first installment of the bribe amount totaling Ksh1.5 million was supposed to be channeled on Tuesday and Ksh500,000 was to be sent later at an unspecified date.
