Bomet County NEMA Official Nabbed for Alleged Bribe

By juliet jerotich
Officers from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) have arrested the Bomet County Director of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Samuel Kariuki Ngaanga, over claims of bribery involving Ksh.25,000.

According to the EACC, the county official allegedly demanded the bribe from a local businessman in exchange for allowing him to continue operating his lodging facility in Mulot without the legally required Effluent Discharge License and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certification.

The Commission reported receiving a complaint regarding the bribery earlier this week. Following preliminary investigations, EACC officers set up an operation to apprehend the suspect while in the act of receiving the alleged bribe in Bomet town.

“The arrest was executed successfully after sufficient groundwork had been laid,” the EACC stated, adding that the suspect was immediately taken to Bomet Police Station for further processing. There, he underwent interrogation, had his statement recorded, and was officially booked for the offenses of soliciting and receiving a bribe.

After the initial procedures, Ngaanga was released on a cash bail of Ksh.30,000 as the Commission continues its inquiry into the matter.

EACC reiterated its commitment to rooting out corruption in public offices and warned that government officers who exploit their positions for personal gain will face the full force of the law. The agency further called upon members of the public to report any similar incidents of bribery and corruption to aid in fostering transparency and accountability in service delivery.

This case adds to the growing list of public officers under scrutiny for abuse of office and corruption-related offenses, as EACC intensifies its crackdown on unethical conduct within various government agencies. The final decision on whether charges will be formally filed against the suspect awaits the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.

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The facility was officially opened in August 2021 by the MCK Chief Executive Officer David Omwoyo.

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