NAIROBI, Kenya – The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has dramatically stepped up its Anti-Corruption Crackdown this week, arresting two senior police officers and a Kenya Power technician in separate operations involving bribery allegations. The arrests, which occurred on Thursday, May 28, 2026, signal a renewed offensive against graft within public service as anti-corruption agencies move to stem the vice ahead of the 2027 elections .
In a series of coordinated sting operations, the anti-graft agency apprehended public officials accused of demanding bribes ranging from routine service restoration to the manipulation of criminal investigations. The suspects include a Deputy Criminal Investigations Officer (DCIO), a police corporal, and a technician attached to the Kenya Power Donholm office, alongside their alleged accomplices .
The flurry of arrests marks a significant escalation in the government’s Anti-Corruption Crackdown , following President William Ruto’s recent vows to dismantle corrupt networks in key sectors, including the recent pledge to go after “oil cartels” and corrupt officials in the energy sector .
Police Officers Arrested Over Ksh100,000 Land Case Bribe
In Kisii County, the Anti-Corruption Crackdown netted two high-ranking police officers accused of exploiting a land dispute for personal gain. The EACC arrested Kitutu Central Sub-County DCIO, Chief Inspector Nicholas Waringa, and Corporal Lovy Ochieng Ouya of Nyanchwa Police Station .
Investigations established that the two officers allegedly demanded Ksh100,000 from a complainant to facilitate the arrest of an individual accused of illegally taking possession of a parcel of land within Nyanchwa Estate. The officers were arrested following a controlled operation after they had allegedly received a part payment of Ksh40,000 .
“The arrests followed a complaint alleging that the officers demanded Kes100,000 to facilitate the arrest of an individual accused of illegally taking possession of a parcel of land,” the commission confirmed in a statement. The two suspects were escorted to the EACC Kisii Regional Office for processing and were later released on cash bail of Ksh50,000 each, pending the completion of investigations .
Kenya Power Staff Held Over Ksh30,000 Reconnection Bribe
In a separate incident in Nairobi, the Anti-Corruption Crackdown snared a Kenya Power employee and his accomplice. Gerald Nyaoke, a technician attached to the Kenya Power Donholm Office, alongside contracted technician Moses Otieno, were arrested for allegedly demanding a Ksh30,000 bribe .
According to EACC spokesperson Eric Ngumbi, the arrest followed a complaint lodged with the commission on May 28, 2026, by a resident whose electricity had been disconnected two days earlier. “Investigations established that the suspect, a technician attached to the Kenya Power Donholm Office, allegedly demanded 30,000 Shillings from the complainant in exchange for restoring power supply,” read the statement .
Detectives mounted a sting operation that allowed them to monitor and document interactions between the complainant and the suspects, culminating in the arrest after the alleged bribe exchange. The suspects were escorted to the Integrity Centre for further processing and investigations .
This latest arrest follows a previous Anti-Corruption Crackdown operation in Vihiga County earlier this month, where another Kenya Power official, Kennedy Wambani Oduor, was arrested over an alleged Sh20,000 bribe linked to an electricity maintenance dispute .
Broader Anti-Graft Offensive
The recent arrests are part of a sustained Anti-Corruption Crackdown across various sectors. Just last week, on May 21, the EACC arrested a former employee of the Office of the Auditor General over allegations of forging a KCSE certificate to secure employment. The suspect is accused of fraudulently earning Sh5.8 million in salaries and benefits using the fake academic documents .
The intensified actions come as President William Ruto reaffirms his administration’s commitment to eliminating graft. Speaking during a recent church service in Kilgoris, the President vowed to deal firmly with cartels in the oil industry and other sectors, linking corruption to economic sabotage .
“I said it from the beginning: in this country, we will not negotiate about corruption. We will act decisively to end the menace. People thought I was joking; others saw it as just a game,” President Ruto said .
Public Urged to Report Graft
The EACC has reiterated its commitment to combating corruption and urged members of the public to continue reporting cases of bribery and abuse of office. The commission emphasized that bribery remains a major challenge in public service delivery, with recent surveys indicating that police, magistrates, NTSA officers, and utility company employees are among the most affected sectors, receiving average bribes ranging from Ksh1,000 to Ksh160,000 .
“The war on corruption is firmly on course,” governance expert Javas Bigambo wrote recently, noting that the implementation of the UDA-ODM 10-point agenda has bolstered the anti-graft war. The President signed the Conflict-of-Interest Bill into law in 2025 to enhance efforts of the EACC and the Asset Recovery Agency, which continue to see billions of shillings in cash and assets returned to the government .
As the Anti-Corruption Crackdown gains momentum, the arrested suspects are expected to be arraigned in court once the EACC completes its investigations and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions approves formal charges .
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