KRA customs official arrested over bribery allegations

EACC headquarters. [David Gichuru, Standard]

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) says its officers have arrested a Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) official for demanding a bribe.

The customs official based at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) was arrested after she was caught demanding a bribe from a Consignee to release a laptop.

The consignee had gone to the Airport to collect an HP Laptop sent to him by a relative from Texas, USA via DHL

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EACC says that the consignee had received a message from DHL through his mobile phone that his consignment had arrived and he was required to pay a tax of Sh100,974 for the laptop HP Spectre X360.

When he arrived at DHL, he was directed to see the KRA Customs Official who then demanded the bribe.

The Official struck a deal which would see the Customs Official undervalue the consignment so that the Consignee pays a tax of Sh12,000 instead of the appropriate tax amount of Sh100,974 in exchange for a bribe of Sh35,000.

Upon investigations, EACC arrested the official on Friday, October 14, 2022 evening while receiving the bribe. She was escorted to EACC Integrity Centre Police Station for processing.

She spent the night at the Kilimani Police Station and was released on Saturday on cash bail.