Fraudster Posing as Nairobi County Official Arrested, KFS Officers Busted in Shocking Bribery Scandal

By THE DISPATCH DIGITAL REPORTER

A suspected fraudster posing as a senior Nairobi County official has been arrested in a sting operation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), alongside two Kenya Forest Service (KFS) officers caught running a separate bribery racket in Garissa.

Nairobi County Imposter Nabbed

In the heart of Nairobi’s Central Business District, a man identified as William Otieno Okoth was apprehended after he allegedly demanded a Kes100,000 bribe from a complainant, falsely claiming he could secure a job for the complainant’s wife as a cleaner in the Nairobi City County Government. Posing as the Personal Assistant to the County Secretary, Okoth convinced the victim that his influence within the County was substantial and that a “tea” payment of Kes100,000 would fast-track the issuance of an employment letter.

The desperate complainant, however, saw through the scam and reported the matter to the EACC, which promptly set up a trap. Okoth was arrested red-handed as he collected the bribe outside Trattoria Restaurant in the CBD. Following the arrest, the suspect was processed at Integrity Centre Police Station before being detained at Kilimani Police Station. He now faces further interrogation and formal charges for impersonation and bribery.

Kenya Forest Service Officers in Bribery Bust

In a separate but equally shocking development, two Kenya Forest Service (KFS) officers have been arrested in Garissa for orchestrating a fraudulent scheme targeting casual workers. The two suspects, Elphas Tembu Wesonga, a Conservator, and Ibrahim Aden Hussein, an Accountant, were found to be exploiting KFS employees by overpaying them and then demanding that they return the excess funds for personal gain.

The officers allegedly deposited inflated salaries into the bank accounts of casual employees, disguised as legitimate payments. Once the funds were withdrawn by the workers, the officers would force them to hand over the money. During the operation, EACC officers recovered Kes73,000, part of that day’s illicit collection, believed to be destined for the pockets of the suspects and their superiors.

Both Wesonga and Hussein were processed at the EACC North Eastern Regional Offices in Garissa before being booked at Garissa Police Station for further questioning and potential charges.

Widespread Corruption Scandals

These back-to-back arrests highlight the increasing prevalence of corruption and fraudulent schemes across different sectors in Kenya. The EACC continues its efforts to root out these crimes, with investigations ongoing into both cases. More charges and arrests are expected as the Commission intensifies its anti-corruption operations.

The public is urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the relevant authorities, as these cases demonstrate that no one, from top officials to lower-level workers, is immune from the far-reaching consequences of corruption.