A court clerk attached to the Busia Law Courts has been arrested by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over allegations that he demanded and received a Ksh180,000 bribe to influence the outcome of a criminal case.
The suspect, Wesley Kipkoech Langat, is accused of acting on behalf of a magistrate at the court station by asking for the money from an accused person.
According to the EACC, the money was allegedly meant to secure a lenient penalty in a case that was pending before the court.
The investigation began after a report was made to the commission concerning an alleged bribery demand linked to the case.
The matter involved a commercial vehicle that had been impounded by police officers over alleged traffic offences.
The EACC said the magistrate was allegedly involved in the demand through the court clerk. The bribe was reportedly sought to influence the outcome of the case involving a complainant and six co-accused persons.
The commission later mounted an operation to establish the allegations. Langat was arrested after he allegedly received the Ksh180,000 during the operation.
Following his arrest, the court clerk was taken to the EACC Western Regional Office in Bungoma, where he is being held as the commission processes the case. He is expected to be booked at Bungoma Police Station as investigations continue.
The arrest comes as the anti-corruption agency continues its efforts to deal with bribery involving public officers and other forms of corruption.
The commission has maintained that corruption within public institutions can undermine the delivery of services and weaken public confidence in government systems.
The allegations against Langat have not been proved in court, and investigations are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged payment and whether other individuals were involved.
The case has also drawn attention to the importance of maintaining integrity within the justice system. Court officials interact with members of the public who depend on the courts to handle their cases fairly and according to the law.
The EACC has reiterated that it will continue investigating reports of bribery at service delivery points.
The commission says such operations are intended to protect public institutions from corruption and promote accountability among public officers.
The commission is expected to gather more evidence and determine the next legal steps against the suspect and any other person who may be found to have been involved in the alleged bribery scheme.
