Tharaka Nithi County official arrested for receiving bribe

A senior official in Tharaka Nithi County was grilled at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) office in Isiolo after he was found soliciting a bribe.

Director of Procurement Lawrence Mutembei was arrested over an alleged bribe of Ksh.50,000.

Reports indicate that a youthful contract seeker identified as Charles Mugendi, however bargained with the director and ended up giving him Ksh.20,000.

The incident later turned out to be an EACC dragnet and he was arrested.

According to the agency’s Upper Eastern Regional Coordinator Ignatius Wekesa, the contract seeker is the one who reported the matter to his office.

Officers then gave him treated money to present to Mr. Mutembei and upon receiving it, the officers arrested him and recovered the money.

Wekesa has called on members of public including contractors to help the commission fight graft by reporting cases of bribery involving public officers.

He reiterated President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive that all accounting and procurement officers will be vetted to ensure integrity.

The officer further warned that all those linked to corruption cases will be prosecuted in accordance.

He said that once investigations are complete, Mutembei will be handed over to the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).