NAIROBI, Kenya — The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has apprehended four officials from the National Treasury’s Pensions Department in connection with an alleged bribery syndicate that defrauded Kenyans of over KSh 10.5 million.
The arrests, announced in an EACC statement on Thursday, July 17, are the culmination of a two-month-long undercover operation.
The arrested suspects have been identified as Wilkens Muhando Mugatsia, an intern at the Pensions Department; Henry Odhaimbo Otira, a Senior Pensions Officer; Catherine Muthoni Murage, another Senior Pensions Officer; and Byrson Mark, a Chief Clerical Officer.
“Following the said allegations, the Commission undertook a detailed undercover operation for the last two months that led to the arrest of Wilkens Muhando Mugatsia, an intern at the Pensions Department; Henry Odhaimbo Otira, Senior Pensions Officer; Catherine Muthoni Murage, Senior Pensions officer, and Byrson Mark, Chief Clerical Officer,” the EACC statement confirmed.
The anti-graft agency disclosed that the suspects had allegedly formed a criminal syndicate designed to exploit vulnerable pensioners and members of the public seeking expedited services at the department.
Bribes were reportedly solicited to hasten service delivery, preying on individuals in desperate need of official assistance.
“Preliminary investigations have established a criminal syndicate involving pension officials who have been extorting members of the public seeking services at the Pensions Department,” the statement elaborated.
It further detailed the alleged modus operandi: “It is alleged that the officials demand payment of bribes through a paybill account operated by one Wilkens Muhando Mugatsia, an intern at the Pensions Department in return for expedited services.”
The extensive EACC investigation uncovered that a staggering total of over KSh 10.5 million had been transacted through the paybill account linked to the alleged scam over the past two years.
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In an apparent attempt to conceal the illicit scheme, the account was reportedly registered under the intern’s mother’s name.
“In the last two years, a total of KSh 10,523,044 has been transacted through the paybill account, with the above suspects receiving various amounts. Further investigation reveals that the said paybill account is registered in the name of Mr. Muhando’s mother,” the statement further reads.
Following their processing at the Integrity Centre Police Station, the four suspects were escorted to Kilimani Police Station, where they are currently being held as investigations continue into the alleged corruption ring.
