The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on November, 28 2025, carried out a major raid at the Kenya Institute of Highways and Building Technology (KIHBT) Kisii Campus, as well as the homes of three officials from both KIHBT and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).
The operation, executed under court-issued search warrants, targets an alleged bribery syndicate within the institute.
The action follows reports that instructors in the Plant Operation Department were soliciting and receiving bribes from students scheduled for NTSA-administered test-drive exams.
The alleged payments, described as “facilitation fees,” were reportedly required to guarantee passing marks.
Investigators also indicate that some instructors have been collecting school fees directly in cash, using personal mobile phone numbers and proxies, a practice that contravenes college regulations which mandate payment strictly through the official school pay bill number.
Key Findings from Preliminary Investigations
1. The alleged bribery network is reportedly run by two KIHBT instructors: Philip Dawa and Fidel Omondi.
2. Students were allegedly required to pay a Sh3,100 facilitation fee in cash to Fidel Omondi to pass driving test exams; those who refused were reportedly failed automatically.
3. The collected funds were allegedly shared between NTSA examiners and the two instructors. In some cases, students who paid the fee reportedly received passing marks and certificates without sitting the practical exams.
4. The official tuition fee at KIHBT is Sh65,000, plus a Sh1,050 registration fee, payable strictly via the designated pay bill number.
5. Students who opted to pay instructors directly were allegedly charged only Sh40,000, below the mandatory amount.
Over the last three years, Philip Dawa is said to have transacted over Sh34 million through M-Pesa using two mobile numbers, while Fidel Omondi reportedly processed Sh8 million over the same period.
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Corruption Cartel
During the raid, officers arrested Fidel Omondi and recovered Sh171,000 in cash from an envelope hidden in his jacket.
Other items considered critical for the investigation were also seized.
The suspect was processed at Kisii Police Station pending further inquiries.
In a statement, the body reaffirmed its commitment to fighting bribery at service delivery points and urged the public to report unethical conduct via its toll-free hotline 1551 or through any regional office nationwide.
The raid has sparked public debate, with questions emerging about whether Kenyan colleges are increasingly vulnerable to corruption and becoming “cash-for-certificates” markets.
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