By Tajeu Shadrack Nkapapa
Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested 2 Kenya Forest Service officers for devising and executing a fraudulent scheme.
“The Commission has arrested two officers from the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) in Garissa for devising and implementing a fraudulent scheme. This scheme involved overcompensating casual employees hired by the organization and subsequently demanding the return of the excess funds from these employees for personal gain,” Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission said on X.
According to the commission, officials have been transferring funds into the bank accounts of casual workers, presenting these transactions as legitimate payments.
Subsequently, they instruct the workers to withdraw the money and surrender it to them.
The suspects arrested, Elphas Tembu Wesonga, a Conservator, and Ibrahim Aden Hussein, an Accountant, were taken into custody during an operation conducted by the Commission on Tuesday.
During the operation, a total of KES 73,000, part of the day’s collection from the casual employees, was recovered.
It is believed that the collected money was shared among the two suspects and their senior colleagues.
“The suspects, Elphas Tembu Wesonga- Conservator and Ibrahim Aden Hussein- Accountant, were arrested in an operation mounted by the Commission on Tuesday and a total of Kes73,000 being part of the day’s collection from the casual employees recovered. It is alleged that the money collected in the syndicate is shared among the officers and their seniors,” EACC noted.
The arrested officers were processed at EACC North Eastern Regional Offices in Garissa before being booked at the Garissa Police Station, where they are awaiting further legal proceedings.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of the fraudulent syndicate and any additional individuals involved.