KRA, KEBS officials arrested soliciting bribe to clear Ksh.1.1M cargo at Mombasa Port

Two senior officials from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) have been arrested at the port of Mombasa for allegedly soliciting bribes to facilitate the clearance of cargo.

Thomas Kiprotich Karubee who is Head of Verification at the KRA Regional Container Freight Station at the Mombasa Port had asked for a bribe of Ksh.200,000 to clear and release a container from Scotland.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) said the container contained second hand household goods and electronics with a declared value of Kshs.1,100,000.

"The complainant had paid all taxes due amounting to over Kshs. 500,000 but the KRA Official insisted that he could not clear and release the container unless the bribe was paid. This prompted the complainant to seek intervention from EACC," read the EACC statement in part.

EACC detectives at the Coast region set up an operation to nab the KRA officer, ambushing him while receiving Ksh.110,000 as part of the bribe.

Kiprotich was arrested together with Mr. Daniel Kimonge an Inspections Officer, at the Kenya Bureau of Standards who had also solicited and received Ksh.20,000 to reporteddly return a favorable report and clear the cargo.