A supervisor at the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company (NAWASCO) was arrested by police after soliciting a Ksh50,000 bribe from a client.
In a statement by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Wednesday, August 2 the supervisor was arrested while on duty in Kariobangi South following a trap laid for the officers and the complainant.
According to the EACC, the client had lodged a complaint with the agency on Monday, July 31 following a persistent push by the official over the Ksh50,000.
It is reported that the bribe was being solicited to facilitate the reconnection of water in a residential unit of the client.
The complainant's water had been disconnected over arrears amounting to Ksh100,000.
EACC documented that the water official even threatened to fake the water bill in a move aimed at pressuring the complainant to give the bribe.
The detectives together with the client then hatched a plan to have the official go and collect the money, not knowing the plans of the police.
"He had allegedly required the complainant to pay a fictitious water bill of Ksh100,000 arising from a faulty meter.
"On Monday, the suspect is alleged to have summoned the complainant to his office in Pangani from where he threatened to increase the alleged 'pending water bill to Ksh240,000 if the bribe was not paid" he stated.
EACC added that it will prefer charges under the Bribery Act, 2016 against the official.
Pending the commencement of the case in Court, the senior official was released on police bail.
The Anti-Corruption Commission further warned government officials against misusing their officers to solicit bribes from Kenyans.
