EACC Arrests Kilifi Revenue Officer for Demanding Ksh435,000 Bribe in Watamu

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested a Kilifi County Revenue Collection Officer, caught demanding a Ksh435,000 bribe.

The suspect, according to the EACC, is a building inspector attached to the approvals section in Watamu Municipality, who allegedly solicited bribes to facilitate construction approvals. 

EACC reveals that a complainant reported that county officials visited a construction site in the Timboni area and demanded Ksh73,000 for wall construction. 

An additional payment of Ksh362,000 was also sought for other structures, an amount that, according to EACC, was deliberately inflated for financial gain and exploitation.

 “According to the complainant, county revenue officers visited his construction site in the Timboni area of Watamu and demanded Kes73,000 for wall construction and Kes362,000 for other structures. The amount is said to have been deliberately inflated for personal financial gain,” stated EACC.

On March 25, 2026, EACC received the complaint and quickly confirmed a bribe demand totalling Ksh400,000. EACC investigators acted without delay to prevent further exploitation of citizens seeking legitimate construction approvals.

The following day, March 26, the Commission conducted a targeted operation at the municipal offices, resulting in the arrest of the revenue officer suspected of soliciting the bribe, an arrest that was part of wider anti-corruption enforcement measures as per EACC.

The suspect was then escorted to the EACC Upper Coast Regional Office in Malindi for processing and later taken to Malindi Police Station, where she was released on cash bail of Ksh20,000. 

This latest EACC nab joins a list of arrests that were made recently, with the most shocking involving EACC arresting an impersonator posing as a National Intelligence Service (NIS) officer for orchestrating a Ksh15 million fraudulent tender scheme.

EACC revealed that the suspect falsely presented himself as a senior NIS officer attached to the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) Board and used this guise to deceive a construction firm into undertaking a non-existent project at Kaptis Primary Special School in Hamisi Sub-County, Vihiga County.

EACC officers apprehended the suspect while receiving the bribe. He was booked at Kisumu Central Police Station and released on Ksh20,000 cash bail pending further investigations. 

EACC now warns the public officers against engaging in corrupt practices, as well as the public from falling prey to fraudulent traps, and stresses its commitment to eradicating bribery at service delivery points to enhance access to quality services for all citizens.