The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested a woman who threatened to revoke a business license if not bribed in Kiambu County, Central Kenya.
Mercy Wambui was arrested following investigations into allegations that she impounded goods belonging to a complainant, a bar business operator in the County, and demanded Ksh40,000 ($283) bribe to return the same.
Wambui is accused of threatening to revoke the complainant’s license and stop her from operating the bar business altogether if the demanded bribe was not given.
“The Commission is in receipt of numerous complaints of this nature regarding liquor licensing officials within Kiambu County,” said the EACC.
According to the commission, on June 28, 2023, Kiambu County Enforcement Officers, including the suspect, went to the complainant’s bar business premises and found her employees stocking beverages and undertaking stock-taking for the day.
The liquor licensing officials accused the complainant of opening and operating a bar before the stipulated time. They, thus, confiscated the complainant’s goods and went away with them.
The complainant followed up with the officials at their office, whereby the suspect demanded a bribe to absolve the complainant of the alleged offence and return the impounded goods.
“On July 4 2023, the complainant made another follow-up on the matter but was not assisted. Instead, the officer threatened to revoke her license and stop her from operating the bar business altogether unless the demanded Ksh40,000 ($283) was given,”
“On July 11 2023, the complainant reported the matter to EACC which undertook investigations and verified the bribe demand. The suspect was arrested the following day while receiving the bribe from the complainant.”
She was grilled and later released on $283 police bail pending a court appearance.
