EACC arrests civil societies chair over alleged Sh2 million extortion plot 

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested the Chairperson of the Consortium of Civil Societies in Kenya, Peter Odhiambo Agoro, over allegations of extorting a parastatal CEO.

EACC spokesperson Eric Ngumbi confirmed the arrest on Tuesday, revealing that a state corporation's CEO had approached the commission with a complaint about an extortion attempt.

“The CEO reported being asked for a sum of Sh3 million as an inducement and facilitation fee to avoid the publicization of accusations of procurement malpractices against him,” Ngumbi said.

Ngumbi said the EACC acted swiftly, setting up a trap after receiving the report.

“Initially, the demand was Sh3 million, but the amount was later reduced to Sh2 million,” he said.

The operation culminated in Agoro’s arrest during a down payment of Sh1.5 million.

“The suspect accepted the complainant’s plea to reduce the demanded amount to Sh2 million, which was to be paid in two instalments of Sh1.5 million today and Sh500,000 later. Unknown to him, the complainant had already notified EACC of the matter,” the Commission said.

Agoro has since been taken to the EACC Integrity Centre Police Station as investigations into the matter continue.

The arrest of Agoro comes just a few days after the Commission handed over Sh5 billion worth of assets that were corruptly acquired back to the government.

During a ceremony at State House, Nairobi, EACC Chief Executive Officer Twalib Mbarak transferred 35 title deeds covering approximately 18.71 acres. Along with these properties, Mbarak revealed that the commission also recovered cash assets totalling Sh511 million.

“EACC recovered Sh361,395,356 and remitted it to the National Treasury, Consolidated Fund Account. The money was recovered from individuals who had irregularly acquired public properties,” Mbarak said.

He added that Sh79.2 million was reclaimed from a law firm for the Kenya Ports Authority Retirement Benefits Scheme and Sh70.6 million from an individual, funds intended for the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Retirement Benefits Scheme.

Notable among the recovered assets was a 1.88-acre parcel of land in Kisumu valued at Sh1.4 billion, which belonged to the Judiciary.

Mbarak also mentioned three properties in Eldoret, measuring 3.25 acres, valued at Sh1.2 billion, and registered in favour of the National Police Service. Additionally, a 1-acre piece of land worth Sh700 million was recovered for the Uasin Gishu Referral Hospital.

EACC Chairperson David Oginde, present at the event, emphasised the commission's dedication to making corruption unprofitable by stripping away illicit gains.

"This event is a symbolic demonstration of our efforts to eliminate the benefits of graft," Oginde said.

He also assured that EACC would continue to collaborate with both national and county governments to promote transparency and accountability in the use of public resources.