A senior officer working at the Kericho County Lands Registry has been arrested by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission over claims of bribery.
The officer is accused of taking Ksh210,000 in order to process title deeds for two parcels of land. His arrest happened inside his office where the commission says he had already collected the money.
After being taken to Kericho Police Station for booking, the officer was later released on a cash bail of Ksh50,000 while investigations continue.
The commission explained that this case is part of a wider operation aimed at cracking down on corruption in government offices.
EACC said its mission is to protect ordinary Kenyans from paying bribes for services that are supposed to be provided for free.
It also revealed that more surveillance will be directed to areas known for graft, especially departments that handle land matters where corruption is often rampant.
EACC boss Abdi A. Mohamud stressed that the war against corruption is not going to leave any sector untouched.
He said the commission will continue to target officers who exploit citizens and reminded public servants that they are expected to deliver services honestly and fairly.
The land sector has for years been one of the areas most affected by corruption. Many Kenyans have complained about being forced to pay extra money to obtain services like title searches and land transfers.
It is common for officials to hold back documents until a bribe is offered, leaving citizens frustrated and financially strained.
These cases have continued to make the land offices a hub of mistrust where citizens approach services with suspicion, fearing delays and unnecessary demands.
This latest arrest comes only a week after another senior registrar in Busia was caught in similar circumstances.
The officer was accused of demanding Ksh10,000 from a landowner before releasing a title deed that had already been processed. EACC officers from the Western Regional Office arrested him and later booked him at Bungoma Police Station.
The officer is also under investigation and is expected to face charges once the case is complete.
EACC has made it clear that land officials who engage in corrupt practices risk dismissal and prosecution.
The commission said it is working on gathering more intelligence to track down officers who exploit citizens. The arrests have put more pressure on the government to clean up the land sector and restore public trust.
Many Kenyans continue to experience long delays and harassment whenever they try to access land services, making reforms urgent.
The agency has encouraged Kenyans to report officers who demand bribes, assuring them that their safety will be protected.
According to EACC, the fight against corruption cannot succeed without citizens taking part by exposing the officers who engage in these practices. The commission believes that only through joint efforts can the cycle of bribery in public offices finally be broken.
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