Clearing agent fined Ksh.3M or face prison for demanding Ksh.2.9M bribe from church officials

In a statement issued on Friday, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) revealed that in October 2020, Philip Mutua Kilonzo demanded a Ksh.2.9 million bribe to resolve a tax dispute between the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the United African Evangelical Ministry. 

According to lead prosecutor Thelma Nanjaya, the suspect alleged that he could influence the writing off of alleged taxes. 

He also demanded Ksh.20,000 from the church as travel expenses from Busia to Nairobi. 

Following his arrest, Kilonzo was charged with two counts of requesting a bribe and one count of obtaining money by false pretences.

Appearing before Principal Magistrate Celesa Okore, Kilonzo was handed three sentences to serve concurrently. 

The convict was fined Ksh.1.5 million or serve two years in prison for demanding the Ksh.2.9 million bribe. He also received another Ksh.1.5 million fine for soliciting the same bribe amount on several occasions. 

Further, he was ordered to pay a fine of Ksh.50,000 or face 8 months imprisonment for obtaining Ksh.20,000 under false pretence.