Officers from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) have arrested Bulla Mzuri Location Chief, Abdirahman Shafe Yussuf for collecting Ksh139,000 bribe from refugees seeking services from his office.

In a statement on Tuesday May 28, 2024, EACC noted that the chief faces charges for alleged extortion of money from refugees.

“The suspect was caught in the act during an operation mounted by EACC Garissa Regional Office following an inquiry into numerous complaints from victims,” EACC noted.

The Chief had reportedly become notorious for bribe demands in an ongoing de-registration of fingerprints from the UNHCR system. 

“Before permitting the process, he allegedly requires every service seeker to pay Ksh 3000 as consultation fee and a further Ksh10,000 facilitation fee despite the service being free of charge,” the commission noted in a statement.

Before the EACC intervention, all service seekers were required to first pay the illegal charges to the Chief’s  accomplice operating from a motor vehicle of registration number KCY 656W (white Probox) parked outside the vetting hall, as a mandatory condition for one to be processed for the service. 

During the operation, the Commission recovered from the Chief Ksh139,000 believed to be part of the day’s collection and a list of 85 double registered applicants indicating the amount paid by each.

The suspect was processed at EACC Garissa Regional Office and freed on police bond pending finalization of the probe.

Meanwhile, the commission condemned such despicable actions by public officers who take advantage of vulnerable service seekers to extort money from them in breach of public trust.

At the same time, the government agency urged service seekers and other persons visiting service delivery points to continue exposing public officials demanding bribes.