The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested an employee of the State Department for Immigration, Border Control and Citizen Services over allegations of soliciting a bribe to facilitate the processing of a Kenyan passport.
EACC said the employee was arrested following a complaint filed at the Commission’s Lower Coast Regional Office in Mombasa.
According to the complaint, the immigration official allegedly demanded money to facilitate early fingerprint processing and expedite the passport application process.
Preliminary investigations by EACC established that the employee allegedly solicited and agreed to receive Sh12,000 in connection with the passport application.
The Commission subsequently mounted an operation that led to the employee’s arrest.
EACC said the operation followed investigations into the complaint and the alleged request for payment in relation to the passport application.
The employee was booked and processed at Central Police Station in Mombasa following the arrest.
EACC said the employee was later released on a cash bail of Sh20,000 as investigations continue.
The arrest comes as EACC continues its efforts to address bribery concerns at public service delivery points.
The Commission said its efforts are aimed at ensuring that public services are delivered without improper demands for payment.
Passport processing is one of the services handled by the State Department for Immigration, with applicants required to undergo several procedures, including biometric registration and fingerprint capture, before their documents are processed.
The commission reiterated its commitment to fighting bribery and other forms of corruption that undermine public service delivery.
“The Commission remains committed to tackling bribery at service delivery points and enhancing the quality of public services for all citizens,” EACC said.
The agency has urged members of the public who encounter demands for bribes while seeking government services to report such incidents through its offices and reporting channels.
Investigations into the Mombasa case are continuing, with the commission expected to forward the findings to the relevant authorities upon completion.
