A patrol traffic police officer operating along the busy Garissa - Thika highway has agreed to surrender Ksh26 million he allegedly acquired through bribery to the state.
According to a report, members of the public raised concerns over the matter which prompted the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to track and investigate him.
“During the six years, we established that he had cumulative assets, cash, and land valued at Ksh47 million. He had banked Ksh26 million, which has been frozen through a court order,” EACC’s Philip Kagucia was quoted as saying by a local daily.
“The sum of Ksh26,193,071 held in bank account number (withheld) in the name of the officer (name withheld) be and is hereby forfeited to the government,” the agreement adopted by Justice James Wakiaga stated.
The traffic police negotiated with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and agreed to surrender Ksh26 million out of Ksh47 million pursued the agency.
The officer defended himself stating that some of the wealth was acquired through livestock trade and inheritance from his father, further stating that he was the sole custodian of his late father's wealth, acting as a trustee on behalf of his family.
According to evidence produced in court, and as quoted by the daily, the officer used to pocket deposits that ranged between Ksh200,000 and Ksh500,000 per week.
He disclosed to the court that he took responsibility for the management of inheritance when his father passed away in 1987, however, the EACC dismissed his argument, stating that the officer was only 10 years old at the time.
The 44-year-old claimed that he inherited 120 camels, 80 cows, and 200 goats from his father. However, the EACC argued that even giving him the benefit of doubt, the animals would amount to Ksh4.3 million only.
EACC further stated that the accused filed a proposal for negotiations in 2021 after the initial negotiations were declined as the amount he was willing to surrender was too little.
After negotiations, the officer was allowed to keep a piece of land worth Ksh3 million and a motor vehicle.
