EACC Arrests Four National Treasury Officials in KSh 10.5 Million Bribery Scandal
Quote from Lawyer on July 18, 2025, 12:04 pmThe Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested four employees of the National Treasury’s Pensions Department, including an intern, for allegedly orchestrating a bribery scheme that amassed over KSh 10.5 million. The arrests, announced on July 17, 2025, followed a two-month covert operation targeting corrupt practices within the department, exposing a sophisticated extortion network preying on Kenyans seeking pension services.
The suspects, identified as Wilkens Muhando Mugatsia (an intern), Henry Odhiambo Otira (Senior Pensions Officer), Catherine Muthoni Murage (Senior Pensions Officer), and Byrson Mark (Chief Clerical Officer), were apprehended after investigations revealed they were extorting money from the public through a paybill account. This account, registered under the name of Mugatsia’s mother, facilitated transactions totaling KSh 10,523,044 over the past two years. The EACC stated that the officials demanded bribes in exchange for expediting pension-related services, exploiting vulnerable citizens seeking timely access to their entitlements.
Preliminary investigations uncovered a well-organized criminal syndicate within the Pensions Department. The EACC’s probe, initiated following numerous public complaints, established that the paybill account was a central tool in the scheme, with the suspects receiving varying amounts from the illicit funds. The operation’s success highlights the EACC’s increasing reliance on sting operations to combat corruption in public institutions, a tactic that has proven effective in recent crackdowns.
The four suspects were processed at the Integrity Centre Police Station and are set to be transferred to Kilimani Police Station as investigations continue. The EACC has vowed to pursue further inquiries to ensure all involved parties are held accountable and to recover the misappropriated funds. The commission emphasized its commitment to eliminating bribery at service delivery points, aiming to restore public trust and ensure equitable access to government services.
This scandal adds to a series of high-profile corruption cases handled by the EACC. Earlier this year, the commission recovered KSh 39.2 million in unauthorized allowances paid to two other National Treasury officials, demonstrating its ongoing efforts to curb financial misconduct. The arrests also come amid broader initiatives to audit public sector operations, with the EACC collaborating with institutions like the National Police Service to address systemic loopholes that enable graft.
Public reaction has been one of outrage, with many Kenyans expressing frustration over the persistent corruption within government departments. The involvement of an intern in such a significant bribery scheme has raised particular concern, prompting calls for stricter oversight and vetting processes within public institutions. As the EACC continues its investigations, the case underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms to safeguard public funds and services.
The commission encourages citizens to report corruption incidents through its toll-free number, 1551, reinforcing its reliance on public cooperation to dismantle corrupt networks. The suspects are expected to face charges related to abuse of office, extortion, and conspiracy to commit corruption, with the EACC signaling that more arrests may follow as the investigation deepens.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested four employees of the National Treasury’s Pensions Department, including an intern, for allegedly orchestrating a bribery scheme that amassed over KSh 10.5 million. The arrests, announced on July 17, 2025, followed a two-month covert operation targeting corrupt practices within the department, exposing a sophisticated extortion network preying on Kenyans seeking pension services.
The suspects, identified as Wilkens Muhando Mugatsia (an intern), Henry Odhiambo Otira (Senior Pensions Officer), Catherine Muthoni Murage (Senior Pensions Officer), and Byrson Mark (Chief Clerical Officer), were apprehended after investigations revealed they were extorting money from the public through a paybill account. This account, registered under the name of Mugatsia’s mother, facilitated transactions totaling KSh 10,523,044 over the past two years. The EACC stated that the officials demanded bribes in exchange for expediting pension-related services, exploiting vulnerable citizens seeking timely access to their entitlements.
Preliminary investigations uncovered a well-organized criminal syndicate within the Pensions Department. The EACC’s probe, initiated following numerous public complaints, established that the paybill account was a central tool in the scheme, with the suspects receiving varying amounts from the illicit funds. The operation’s success highlights the EACC’s increasing reliance on sting operations to combat corruption in public institutions, a tactic that has proven effective in recent crackdowns.
The four suspects were processed at the Integrity Centre Police Station and are set to be transferred to Kilimani Police Station as investigations continue. The EACC has vowed to pursue further inquiries to ensure all involved parties are held accountable and to recover the misappropriated funds. The commission emphasized its commitment to eliminating bribery at service delivery points, aiming to restore public trust and ensure equitable access to government services.
This scandal adds to a series of high-profile corruption cases handled by the EACC. Earlier this year, the commission recovered KSh 39.2 million in unauthorized allowances paid to two other National Treasury officials, demonstrating its ongoing efforts to curb financial misconduct. The arrests also come amid broader initiatives to audit public sector operations, with the EACC collaborating with institutions like the National Police Service to address systemic loopholes that enable graft.
Public reaction has been one of outrage, with many Kenyans expressing frustration over the persistent corruption within government departments. The involvement of an intern in such a significant bribery scheme has raised particular concern, prompting calls for stricter oversight and vetting processes within public institutions. As the EACC continues its investigations, the case underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms to safeguard public funds and services.
The commission encourages citizens to report corruption incidents through its toll-free number, 1551, reinforcing its reliance on public cooperation to dismantle corrupt networks. The suspects are expected to face charges related to abuse of office, extortion, and conspiracy to commit corruption, with the EACC signaling that more arrests may follow as the investigation deepens.