Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives arrested Mbeu Assistant Chief Joshua Karithi in Meru County on Sunday, May 7 following allegations of bribery.
He was arrested in a sting operation after a man, Edward Mutie, reported that Karithi had demanded Ksh3,000 to resolve a dispute with his neighbour. The proposed bribe was eventually negotiated downwards to Ksh300.
EACC detectives provided the man with Ksh300 [treated money] and installed a hidden camera to provide evidence of the alleged bribe.
Karithi was arrested in his office, unaware he was being recorded when he received the treated money and split it with alleged emissaries.
Regional EACC boss George Ojowi disclosed that Mutie had followed up on the matter for over one year as he could not pay the requested Ksh3,000 bribe.
The Assistant Chief had allegedly promised Mutie that he would arbitrate favorably in the dispute once he gave out the requested amount.
“He was arrested alongside Mr Isiah Miriti and Mr Peter Mugambi and [we] recovered treated money from the suspect’s pockets. EACC has confirmed that the video and audio recordings in our possession show how the officers demanded for the bribe and later on each taking his share of the treated money,” he told reporters.
The Assistant Chief was also found with Ksh4,250 in cash but there was no evidence to link it to corrupt activities. Alongside the two co-accused, he was taken to Meru Police Station where their fingerprints were taken before being released on police bond.
Area residents claimed that the chief was notorious for extorting them and had even set up a committee with a Chairman and Secretary to co-ordinate the collection of bribes.
“Failure to pay the non-receipted amount then their cases were not being heard by the local administrator who had formed a special committee to receive the bribes, comprising a chairman and secretary,” Ojowi explained.
