A senior enforcement officer attached to the Environment Section of the Nairobi City County Government that regulates dumping of waste was Tuesday arrested in an operation by an anti-graft agency for demanding an Sh100,000 bribe.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) mounted an operation leading to the arrest of one Joseph Kiplang’at Leitich after he had solicited a bribe from a complainant so as not to charge in court three employees.
They had been arrested and were, according to him, due for arraignment before the City Court to face charges relating to the dumping of waste.
The complainant’s employees were arrested on Saturday, December 10, 2022, and held in custody at Central Police Station.
They were released on the following day, on a cash bail of Sh5,000 each to appear before Nairobi City Court on Tuesday, December 13 2022 to answer to charges of unlawful dumping of waste.
According to EACC on December 11, 2022, the suspect demanded a bribe of Sh100,000 from the complainant so as to order their release.
The complainant did not accept this idea but instead asked the employees to present themselves before the City Court as earlier directed by the suspect.
However, on appearing before the City Court, their names were not called by the court and no charges were preferred against them.
Neither the suspect nor any other enforcement officer from City Hall showed up in court to meet the three employees. “Faced with this situation, the complainant went back to the County Government’s office to inquire on the matter,” EACC said.
When the complainant reached the suspect’s office, the suspect insisted on getting the bribe he had demanded so as to “finish” the matter, “clear” the three employees and “waive” the criminal charges he allegedly had against them.
“Determined not to succumb to the bribe demand, the Complainant rushed to EACC offices at integrity matter where he reported the matter.”
After preliminary investigations, EACC verified the allegations and forthwith mounted an operation leading to the arrest of the suspect while receiving Sh30,000 as part of the bribe demanded.
Upon arrest, the suspect was escorted to Kilimani Police Station where he spent the night.
He transferred to EACC Integrity Centre Police Station where he recorded a statement and was released on cash bail pending further processing in accordance with the law.
Subject to concurrence of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the suspect will be charged in court and subsequently suspended from office in accordance with the law.
“EACC commends the complainant who despite threats and intimidation stood firm and rejected the bribe demands from the City Hall enforcement officer. This is what is expected of citizens when they encounter such bribe demands,” EACC said.
“On their part, citizens should endeavor to always operate within the dictates of the law and promptly report to EACC any public official seeking to extort money from them. Reports may be submitted using the EACC TOLL-FREE NO. 1551.”
We could not get a comment from the suspect as his mobile phone was switched off.
