The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested an Assistant County Commissioner in Bomet County over allegations of soliciting a bribe of Ksh. 20,000.
In a statement, the EACC confirmed that its officers based in Nakuru conducted the operation targeting Emkwen Division Assistant County Commissioner, Martin Vaslaus Jakoyo. He was apprehended on Thursday and taken to the Bomet Central Police Station, where he was booked.
According to an official police report, Jakoyo allegedly demanded the money to “settle” a dispute between two villagers in the area. The report further revealed that the matter in question had already been resolved amicably by the local Nyumba Kumi elders before the administrator’s alleged intervention.
Investigators say the arrest followed a complaint lodged with the EACC, prompting an undercover operation to catch the public official in the act. While the commission did not immediately disclose whether the bribe money had been recovered, it assured that the suspect would face charges once the investigation is complete.
The EACC has reiterated its warning to public servants against abusing their positions for personal gain, stressing that such actions undermine public trust in government institutions. “This arrest is part of ongoing efforts to rid public service of corruption and promote integrity at all levels of administration,” an EACC spokesperson stated.
Cases of alleged bribery involving government administrators have been a recurring concern in rural Kenya, where officials are often the first point of contact for citizens seeking justice or administrative intervention. The EACC has urged residents to continue reporting such incidents, noting that community cooperation is critical in the fight against graft.
Jakoyo is expected to be arraigned once the investigation file is forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for review. If found guilty, he could face a fine, a prison term, or both, under Kenya’s anti-corruption laws.
The arrest serves as yet another reminder of the EACC’s active presence in counties and its commitment to pursuing even relatively low-value bribery cases, which cumulatively have a significant impact on governance and service delivery.
