EACC Arrests DCI Officer for Soliciting Ksh20K Bribe to Alter Investigation

An officer attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) was arrested and charged with soliciting a Ksh20,000 bribe to allegedly compromise a case.

The officer, who is a sergeant, was arrested by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) close to seven years after he committed the crime. 

“EACC has arrested and arraigned a DCI officer based at Changamwe Police Station in Mombasa County for soliciting a bribe from the complainant as an inducement to terminate a criminal case in which the complainant was allegedly involved,” a statement released by EACC read.

The DCI officer reportedly solicited a bribe on June 6, 2018, to derail investigations into a case and had received a down payment to that effect. The officer was arrested after a complaint was raised by the person said to have been facilitating the bribe.

“He requested a financial advantage of Ksh20,000 and received an initial amount of Ksh10,000 from the complainant with the intent that, in consequence, he would compromise an investigation leading to the termination of the complaint’s criminal case,” the EACC stated.

While appearing before Mombasa Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku, the senior officer denied all the charges before him and was released on a bond of Ksh300,000 or Ksh100,000 cash bail.

The latest development comes as somewhat of a surprise and ironic considering that law enforcement officers are responsible for eradicating vices such as bribery and graft.

It follows a recent arrest of nine traffic police officers from the National Police Service (NPS) by EACC in connection to graft-related activities.

The EACC confirmed on Thursday, January 2, that it has arrested the nine officers over alleged extortion of motorists during the Christmas period.

According to the graft watchdog, the nine police officers were arrested in Nakuru, Kajiado, and Kisii counties following traps set by the agency.

A survey done by EACC in March 2023 revealed that the traffic police and the regular police are the three most bribery-prone public institutions.

The 2023 National Ethics and Corruption Survey shows that there is a likelihood that each time a service is sought in the traffic police department, one is likely to be asked for a bribe 1.45 times.