Impersonation
Security officers at Kitui police station have arrested five suspects for impersonating officers from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
The suspects who identified themselves as EACC officers working at the anti-corruption body headquarters office in Nairobi, raided the county revenue collection office and arrested a female office director.
The suspects told the officer who works at the county government headquarters at finance department, that she was under arrest over corruption related issues and ordered her to take them to her house, where she resides in the Kitui Township for an alleged search for stolen cash and other evidence.
Kitui County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Finance, Peter Kilonzo, while addressing the media outside a police station following arrest of five suspects impersonating EACC officers, who were nabbed by police, while extorting bribes from one of his staff working at the Kitui county government headquarters.
The officer complied and took the five suspects to her house. However, the officer became suspicious of the suspects and immediately made a telephone call to her colleague privately. The colleague also alerted the security officers at the Kitui police station who then quickly rushed to the scene. On arrival, the detectives arrested the imposters who were inside the officer’s house and were harassing the officer.
Kitui Central Police boss Peter Karanja, while addressing media outside his office, in Kitui town, confirmed arrest and detention of the five suspects. “I invited EACC officers from the anti-corruption body Machakos county office and have confirmed that the suspects are all not EACC officers,” said Karanja.
He further added that the suspects are currently being held at Kitui Central Police Station and are expected to be arraigned in court on Monday. “They allegedly arrested the officer at her workplace and escorted her to her home, asserting she had hidden millions of shillings in ill-gotten gains there,” said Karanja.
Among those arrested is Kyallo Kasee, a popular Kamba Benga musician and leader of the Kalandini Boys Band, who has previously faced similar charges of impersonating an EACC officer. The other suspects include one police officer and three civilians. The group is suspected of having extorted money from unsuspecting members of the public and public officers by posing as EACC officers.
Kitui Central Police boss Peter Karanja while addressing the media outside his office in Kitui town over arrest of five suspects impersonating EACC officers.
Following the arrests, Kitui County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Finance, Peter Kilonzo, who also addressed the media outside the police station urged any victims of the gang’s fraudulent activities to come forward and file complaints with the police.
Kilonzo reassured the public that Kitui County’s resources and funds are secure under Governor Dr. Julius Malombe’s administration. He emphasized the governor’s zero-tolerance policy towards corruption, stating that any officer found engaging in corrupt practices would be dismissed, as public resources must be utilized appropriately.