Two senior officials of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) were arrested today afternoon for allegedly soliciting bribes to facilitate clearance of cargo at the Port of Mombasa.
In a statement issued today, a complaint which had been filed on July 20, 2022, at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) offices, led to the arrest of Thomas Kiprotich Karubee, head of Verification at KRA.
The complaint received alleged that Karubee was soliciting for a Sh200,000 bribe to fast-track the clearance and release of a container which had originated from Scotland.
According to Eacc, the said holder contained second-hand household items and electronics with a declared value of Sh1,100,000.
The complainant, who had paid over Sh500,000 to cover all taxes due, was forced to seek intervention at Eacc after the senior official from KRA would not clear and release the container until the bribe was paid.
Detectives from Eacc attached to the Lower Coast Regional Office arrested Karubee after the official received Sh110,000 as part payment of the bribe.
Karubee was arrested together with an inspections officer from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Daniel Kimonge who had received Sh20,000, which he had received allegedly to facilitate for clearance of the cargo and give a favourable report.
The two culprits were escorted to the Eacc offices in Mombasa for processing to be dealt with according to the law.
Eacc will continue to keep tabs at all entry points and urged any person with information on such incidents to report to the Commission.