Mercy Kavoi, Assistant County Commissioner in Roysambu, and her agent David Musyoki were arrested for allegedly soliciting a bribe of Ksh.50,000 from a Mathare slum resident.
Kavoi, who was apprehended by officers from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Wednesday, is said to have demanded the amount to return construction materials she confiscated after demolishing the resident’s home due to claims that it was illegally erected on a road reserve.
“After demolition, the Assistant County Commissioner took away all the construction materials including the iron sheets and window frames, which were kept in her office,” EACC statement reads in part.
According to reports, anti-graft commission detectives set up a trap to catch the assistant commissioner in the act in response to a complaint filed on June 9.
According to a source close to the situation, Commissioner Kavoi agreed to reduce the amount demanded to half after much pleading from the complainant.
“The officer then ordered the complainant not to deliver the money directly to her but hand it over to her agent,” EACC said
“Unknown to them, EACC detectives had all along been following the deal including all the bribe demands and negotiations,” it added.
Officials from EACC pounced on the agent after pocketing the money but he took off and disappeared into the slums before getting arrested after a chase.
According to EACC, the man, during the scuffle, threw away the money to the members of the public in Mathare who were watching the unfolding events.
“As a result, another scuffle ensued among the residents as each scrambled to help themselves with the Sh1,000 notes thrown to them,” EACC said.
The two were escorted to Integrity Centre Police Station where they were questioned and recorded statements on the incident.
The official was later released on police bail pending finalisation of the remaining aspects of the investigation including recommendation of appropriate charges to the Director of Public Prosecutions on the matter.
The agent on the other hand was taken to Kilimani Police Station where he spent the night after he was unable to raise the bail.
