Former Kitui MCA, two accomplices arrested for impersonating EACC investigators
During a search on the suspects, EACC sleuths recovered 12 mobile phones of different types, 22 SIM cards and eight notebooks.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested a former member of the Kitui County Assembly, James Mbuvi and his accomplices, Mike Muthami Kasingi and Raphael Muthoka Kithembe, for impersonating EACC investigators in an extortion racket.
The three were picked up at a Nairobi hotel where they had "summoned" a victim to shed light on matters under their "investigations".
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During a search on the suspects, EACC sleuths recovered 12 mobile phones of different types, 22 SIM cards and eight notebooks with names and particulars of victims targeted for extortion.
The three are suspected to be in a cartel terrorising senior government officials and parastatal bosses while purporting to be EACC officials investigating corruption cases against them.
In a press statement, the commission said it arrested the three suspects, including the former Kyululu Ward MCA, at a hotel in Komarock, Nairobi.
"The EACC received a complaint from a person stating that a person purporting to be the commission's Director of Investigations had summoned him through his mobile phone number for a meeting at a hotel regarding a case EACC was allegedly investigating against him," EACC said in the statement.
"The fact that the complainant was being asked for a meeting at a hotel and not at official EACC offices or a police station raised suspicion in the complainant's mind. Today, the operation was mounted and the suspects were arrested at Three Hut Bar in Nairobi's Komarock Estate, where they were to meet with the complainant."
The suspects were taken to the Integrity Centre Police Station to record statements pending arraignment. They will be charged with impersonation and attempted extortion.
The commission says it has received numerous complaints for the last three years from people reporting that some individuals have specifically impersonated the EACC's Director of Investigations and other senior officials and extorted the public.
EACC appealed to the public to be vigilant and not fall prey to imposters, adding that its investigators have official job cards which they produce for identification while on duty.
"EACC officers summon persons of interest via official written communication to appear at our offices at the headquarters or the nearest regional offices or to a police station. This incident is part of a broader pattern in which fraudsters have exploited unsuspecting members of the public by impersonating EACC officials. The Commission would also like to urge the public to report any suspected imposters immediately."
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