A Nairobi County official has been arrested for allegedly soliciting Ksh.15,000 from a trader at Kariobangi Slaughter House in order to inspect his slaughtered goats.
The suspect, Moses Gachanja Gachuki, who is deployed as a meat inspector, was nabbed by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) officers after the victim filed a complaint.
EACC Spokesperson Eric Ngumbi confirmed the arrest saying the victim declined to pay Gachuki the stated amount and instead reported the matter to the commission, leading to his arrest.
The meat inspector was also found in possession of Ksh.24,000 believed to have been extorted from another trader.
“The complainant refused to succumb to the extortion bid and instead reported the matter to EACC which mounted an investigative operation leading to the arrest of the suspect after receiving the demanded amount,” stated Ngumbi.
He went ahead to reveal that the case may not be isolated since the anti-graft body was aware of similar cases involving meat inspectors who are accumulating millions in bribery.
The inspectors reportedly ask the traders not to pay all fees through the designated government PayBill but only deposit a small portion and then hand over the rest in cash to them.
The suspect was taken to the Kilimani Police Station awaiting processing at EACC’s Integrity Centre Police Station before later being arraigned in court after the conclusion of investigations.