Man Arrested Extorting Ksh1.5M From Job Applicant Claiming Ruto PS Sent Him

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has announced the arrest of a man who attempted to solicit a job applicant Ksh1.5 million to aid him secure the title of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a sugar milling company in Kenya.

The suspect was arrested on Tuesday, January 30 as EACC revealed that he approached the individual claiming he was sent by a Principal Secretary (PS) serving in President William Ruto's administration.

The Ksh1.5 million was a bribe that he had requested from the victim and received in exchange for helping him secure the prestigious position at South Nyanza Sugar Company, whose vacancy was advertised in December 2023.

"The Commission yesterday arrested Mark Kipruto Kuto who had requested and received a bribe of Kes. 1.5 million from the complainant claiming that he had been sent by a Principal Secretary, as an inducement to assist the complainant secure the position of Chief Executive Officer of South Nyanza Sugar Company, advertised on 5th December 2023," stated EACC in part.

The victim however read malice and reported the matter to EACC. Following investigations, the suspect was arrested within the Central Business District (CBD) after pocketing the cash.

He spent the night at Kilimani Police Station and is currently at EACC Police Station facilitating investigations on the matter.

EACC Chairperson Bishop David Oginde had in January pointed out cases of cheating and fake qualifications as being on the increase with a good number of Kenyans securing public jobs, without the requisite qualifications.

"We are finding a lot of reports from across the country and in different categories of government offices. It has come to us as something that we really need to work on,” Oginde said on Tuesday, January 23.

“Some countries are already beginning to blacklist our degrees and this would not be good for the young people of this country. If you are going to get a job out of the country and you present your papers and they are not trusted it will jeopardize our move to export labour.” 

In other news, EACC earlier announced the arrest of an Assistant County Commissioner who stole food valued at Ksh550,200. 

EACC accused Assistant County Commissioner Teddy Buya Bonaya who is stationed in Ganze Sub-County, in Kilifi County, of stealing and selling relief food meant for poor families in Tana River.

The suspect is expected to be arraigned on Thursday, February 1 in connection with the stealing allegations.

Assistant County Commissioner Teddy Buya Bonaya who was arrested by EACC detectives on January 31, 2023. /EACC