A senior government official in Kakamega County has been arrested for allegedly demanding a bribe from a grieving family to process a succession letter a critical document required for the transfer of inheritance from a deceased person to their next of kin.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) confirmed the arrest of the Senior Chief of Marama Central Location, who was caught red-handed after receiving a sh8,000 down payment out of the sh10,000 he had allegedly demanded to release the letter.
According to EACC officials, the arrest followed a formal complaint by the affected family, who claimed the chief had refused to issue the document unless a bribe was paid.
Detectives laid a trap and apprehended the chief in possession of the marked cash. He is currently in custody and is expected to be charged with corruption once investigations are finalized.
The incident comes as the EACC released its 2024 National Ethics and Corruption Survey, which highlights ongoing concerns over bribery across Kenya’s public sector.
The report identified police officers, chiefs, national registration officials, medical personnel, and staff at land and immigration offices as the most commonly implicated in bribery cases.
According to the survey, bribes are most often demanded before a service is provided, indicating a widespread lack of accountability in public service delivery.
A staggering 99.5% of bribes were paid in cash, while only 0.5% were in the form of food or drink.
The findings revealed that:
- 75.6% of respondents were forced to pay bribes before receiving services;
- 18.5% paid during service delivery;
- 3.1% paid after services were rendered;
- 2.8% said they paid both before and after.
The report further emphasized that bribery is deeply rooted in routine public services, including acquiring ID cards, accessing healthcare, obtaining police protection, and processing land documents.
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