The Anti-graft Commission on Thursday arrested two senior officials at the Mombasa Port.
The two, who work for the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), were arrested for soliciting bribes to facilitate cargo clearance.
The arrest followed a complaint received at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) 0ffices on Wednesday, July 20, 2022.
EACC says the head of verification at the KRA was soliciting for a bribe of Sh200,000 in order to clear and release a container that had originated from Scotland.
The container was holding second-hand household goods and electronics with a declared value of Sh1,100,000.
The Commission said the complainant was blackmailed even after having cleared all tax payments.
"The complainant had paid all taxes due amounting to over Sh500,000 but the KRA Official insisted that he could not clear and release the container unless the bribe was paid," EACC said.
EACC further said its detectives from the Lower Coast Regional Office arrested the officer after receiving Sh110,000 as part of the bribe.
"He was arrested together with an Inspections Officer at KEBS who had also solicited and received Sh20,000 purportedly to return a favourable report and clear the cargo," the Commission added.
The two officers have since been escorted to EACC Offices Mombasa for processing awaiting arraignment.
The Anti-graft body has warned port officials against participating in corruption, adding that it will continue to monitor all operations at points.
"It is unacceptable and immoral for officers working at the port to solicit or demand bribes in order to release imported cargo to its owners."
