City hall senior sergeant arrested for demanding Ksh100k bribe

By , K24 Digital
On Wed, 14 Dec, 2022 18:13 | 2 mins read
Joseph Kiplang’at Leitich
Joseph Kiplang’at Leitich. PHOTO/ Courtesy

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested Joseph Kiplang’at Leitich, an enforcement officer of the rank of Senior Sergeant attached to the Environment Section of the Nairobi City County Government that regulates dumping of waste.

The officer allegedly solicited a bribe of Ksh100,000 from a city businessman so as not to charge in court three of his employees who had been arrested. According to Leitich, the three employees were due for arraignment before the city court to face charges relating to dumping of waste.

The businessman’s employees were arrested on Saturday, December 10, 2022, and put in custody at Central Police Station. They were released on the following day on a cash bail Ksh5, 000 each and ordered to appear before Nairobi City Court on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, to answer to charges of unlawful dumping of waste.

On December 11, 2022, the suspect demanded a bribe of Ksh100,000 from the businessman so as to order their release. The businessman, who later reported to EACC, did not accept this idea but instead asked the employees to present themselves before the city court on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, as earlier directed by the suspect.

However, on appearing before the city court, their names were not called by the court and no charges were preferred against them. Neither the suspect nor any other enforcement officer from City Hall showed up in court to meet the three employees. Faced with this situation, the businessman went back to the County Government’s office to inquire about the matter.

Senior Sergeant's demands

When the businessman reached the suspect’s office, the suspect insisted on getting the bribe he had demanded so as to “finish” the matter, “clear” the three employees and “waive” the criminal charges he allegedly had against them.

Determined not to succumb to the bribe demand, the complainant rushed to EACC offices where he reported the matter.  After preliminary investigations, EACC verified the allegations and mounted an operation leading to the arrest of the suspect while receiving Ksh30,000 as part of the bribe demanded.

Upon arrest, the suspect was escorted to Kilimani Police Station where he spent the night. He was on Wednesday transferred to EACC Integrity Centre Police Station where he recorded a statement and was released on cash bail pending further processing.

Subject to the concurrence of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the suspect will be charged in court and subsequently suspended from office.