The judgment was delivered at the Anti-Corruption Court in Nairobi, following investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
The case dates back to October 2020, when the accused demanded a bribe of Ksh 2.9 million from a church that had imported a container for a children’s home.
Although the church had already paid all the required customs duties, the man falsely claimed there were still taxes owed to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
He promised to help “write off” the so-called tax balance if the church paid him.
The ODPP explained that the agent had also lied to the church earlier, saying he needed Ksh 20,000 for travel expenses from Busia to Nairobi.
He claimed he was going to meet KRA officials to sort out the tax matter, but it turned out to be false.
In court, the accused was found guilty on two main charges—asking for a bribe and obtaining money through false pretenses.
For demanding the Ksh 2.9 million bribe, he was fined Ksh 1.5 million or serve two years in prison.
For obtaining Ksh 20,000 through lies, he was fined an additional Ksh 50,000 or face eight months behind bars.
Principal Magistrate Celestine Okore ruled that the sentences would run concurrently.
This means the accused will serve both punishments at the same time, not one after the other.
The ODPP stated that the agent’s intention was to convince the church to pay him to help remove non-existent tax claims from KRA systems.
He used his position as a clearing agent to create fear and confusion among the church officials.
This case is a reminder of the ongoing efforts by Kenya’s anti-corruption agencies to protect the public from fraud and dishonest individuals.
It also shows the importance of reporting suspicious demands for bribes and standing firm against corruption.
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