Detectives attached to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Saturday, November 26, arrested an imposter who extorted money from State officers with the promise of protecting them from police investigations.
In a statement by the EACC, the impersonator, who claimed to be investigating the Ministry of Agriculture and some suppliers, summoned a businessman who was among the Millers enlisted by the government to supply subsidized maize flour before the August 9 elections.
He had ordered the businessman to appear before him at the EACC Integrity Centre Offices with various documents including audit reports and all his bank account statements from January 2022 for inspection.
The imposter, however, suspiciously changed the venue to a popular joint along Thika Road.
The businessman, however, alerted the authorities who took swift action and arrested the impersonator at the Thika Road-based club.
"EACC has arrested a suspect who was posing as an EACC Investigator and extorting money from individuals purportedly to 'protect them from investigations.' He was escorted to Integrity Centre Police Station and later to Kilimani Police Station for processing.
"He was arrested at a local club in Nairobi following a complaint from a businessman who was among the Millers enlisted by Government to supply subsidized maize flour before the August 9 elections.
"He claimed to be investigating the Ministry of Agriculture and some suppliers," read part of the statement.
The Commission pointed out that the imposter is part of a notorious syndicate known for extorting funds from government officers and unsuspecting Kenyans.
"He is suspected to be among notorious fraudsters increasingly impersonating EACC Detectives and soliciting money from state officers.
"His arrest comes in the wake of complaints that the commission continues to receive from members of the public on extortion by imposters," EACC stated.
In a bid to protect the public from falling prey to the scams, EACC noted that their officers are provided with identification documents that ought to be verified on request.
"Members of the public are advised to always insist to any person claiming to be an EACC Investigator to first identify themselves and further take note that any interview by EACC is undertaken ONLY at the Commission’s premises or in police stations, and not any other place," read part of the statement.
