The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested a suspected fraudster for impersonating a Nairobi County official to extort money from a Kenyan.
In a statement on Wednesday, September 25, EACC revealed that the suspect identified as William Otieno Okoth had been posing as the Personal Assistant to the County Secretary of Nairobi City County.
The anti-graft agency further stated that Otieno demanded a Ksh 100,000 bribe in exchange that he would offer the woman a cleaner job.
“The Commission has arrested one William Otieno Okoth who, while pretending to be the Personal Assistant to the County Secretary of Nairobi City County, demanded Ksh100,000 bribe from the complainant purporting that in consequence, he would assist the complainant’s wife to secure a job as a cleaner in the County Government,” EACC said.
Anti-graft Agency Exposes Impersonator
The suspect deceived the complainant into believing that, as the “PA to the CS,” he had significant influence in County affairs.
According to EACC, William Otieno promised that he would promptly facilitate issuance of an employment letter after the complainant buys him “tea” at Ksh100,000.
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The complainant later reported the matter to EACC which mounted an operation leading to the arrest of the suspect outside Tratoria Restaurant within the Central Business District after receiving the demanded bribe.
The suspect was escorted to EACC Integrity Centre Police Station where he was processed and later detained at Kilimani Police Station awaiting further interview and statement recording today.
EACC Corruption Report
The arrest of the suspect comes after the Commission released worrying trends of corruption-related activities in its National Ethics and Corruption Survey Report, 2023, carried out in December last year.
The report provided data on the prevailing perceptions, magnitude, forms, and levels of corruption in the country.
It also ranked Government Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and Counties with the findings revealing that six out of 10 Kenyans perceive corruption to be high.
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On the other hand, the survey revealed that five out of ten Kenyans perceive that corruption has been increasing and that giving and receiving bribes, abuse of office, favoritism, nepotism, and deliberate delay in service provision are perceived as the leading forms of corruption and unethical conduct in public service.
It also listed the Police, Immigration Department, and Registrar of Persons as government departments perceived as most prone to corruption, with greed and desire for quick services as major causes of corruption in public service.
Corruption, the report highlights, has hampered economic growth, affected living standards, and increased the cost of living leading to unemployment and poverty.
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