By Peter Ochieng
A police officer attatched to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Department (DCI) in Nyandarua county has been arrested by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) officers.
Luke Nyasangah was nabbed by EACC officers through their Central regional office in Nyeri today, for allegedly demanding a Sh10,000 bribe from a resident.
The resident had reportedly lost over Sh100,000 in an M-pesa fraud.
“The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), through its Central Regional Office in Nyeri, on Wednesday morning arrested Luke Nyasangah, a DCI Officer based at Ngano Police Station, Nyandaraua County, for demanding Kes.10,000 bribe from a local resident who had lost Kes. 115,000 in Mpesa to fraudsters, and needed police assistance to recover the funds,” EACC said in a statement.
“The suspect told the complainant that the bribe was mandatory to facilitate tracking of the fraudsters,” added the anti graft agency.
The officer is in custody at Charagita Police post pending further processing.
Meanwhile, EACC has moved to challenge the judgement of Justice Byram Ongaya, on Monday, revoking the suspension of KETRACO General Manager Engineer Anthony Wamukota amid ongoing investigations into serious allegations of corruption and economic crime.
Wamukota is among 74 officials, including 6 Chief Executive Officers, suspended from office in November 2023 on recommendations of EACC to pave way for investigations into their alleged involvement in theft or loss of public funds.
EACC states that under section 42(7) of the leadership and integrity Act, 2012 as read with regulation 25 of the leadership and integrity regulations, 2015, a public official may be suspended from office pending the investigation and determination of allegations made against them where such suspension is considered necessary.
“This includes situations where, by virtue of their positions or other considerations, the officer may conceal, alter, destroy, or remove records, documents or evidence; or intimidate, threaten or otherwise interfere with witnesses; or compromise investigations in any other manner,” EACC adds.
The Commission says its decision to move to the Court of Appeal is informed by the overwhelming public interest in keeping the graft suspects away from office, to safeguard the integrity of the investigation process.