EACC Arrests Narok Surveyor Over Alleged Sh100,000 Bribe Demand
The commission said its investigators acted on the complaint and subsequently mounted an operation targeting the suspect.
Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested a surveyor in Narok County over allegations of soliciting and receiving a bribe to facilitate the identification of land beacons.
The suspect, identified as Joan Achieng Odumbe, was arrested following preliminary investigations into a complaint that she allegedly demanded Sh100,000 from a member of the public.
According to the EACC, the money was allegedly sought to facilitate the identification of boundary beacons between two parcels of land in Nairagie Enkare Sub-County, Narok County.
The identification of land beacons is an important process in establishing and confirming property boundaries. Disputes over boundaries can affect landowners and sometimes require the intervention of survey and other government officials.
The commission said its investigators acted on the complaint and subsequently mounted an operation targeting the suspect.
Odumbe was arrested at the Narok County offices while allegedly receiving Sh50,000, which the commission said was part of the money she had demanded from the complainant.
The suspect was later escorted to the EACC South Rift Regional Office in Nakuru, where she was taken through processing and statement recording as investigations continued.
The commission has not indicated that the suspect has been convicted of any offence. The allegations remain subject to the ongoing investigative and legal process.
The arrest comes as the anti-corruption agency continues to intensify its efforts to address bribery and other forms of corruption involving public services.
EACC has repeatedly warned public officials and other individuals involved in the delivery of government services against demanding or accepting money in exchange for performing their official duties.
Bribery allegations involving service delivery points can undermine public confidence in government institutions and make it difficult for citizens to access services fairly.
In this case, the alleged payment was reportedly linked to a land-related service, an area where delays, boundary disputes and administrative processes can have significant consequences for property owners.
The commission said it remains committed to tackling bribery and other forms of corruption at service delivery points across the country.
It added that such efforts are aimed at improving the quality of public services and ensuring that citizens can access government services without being subjected to corrupt demands.
The arrest in Narok is also likely to draw attention to the need for members of the public to report suspected corruption whenever officials demand payments that are not part of the prescribed charges for a service.
EACC’s investigations will determine the circumstances surrounding the alleged demand for Sh100,000 and the circumstances under which the suspect was allegedly found receiving Sh50,000.
Following the completion of investigations, the matter may proceed through the relevant legal channels.
The commission has continued to use undercover operations and other investigative measures in cases involving alleged bribery, particularly where complainants provide information about demands for illicit payments.
The latest operation underscores the agency’s warning that public offices should not be used as avenues for personal financial gain.
As investigations into the Narok case continue, the EACC has reiterated its commitment to protecting the integrity of public service and ensuring that government services are delivered fairly, efficiently and without corruption
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