By Dorothy Musyoka
In a recent crackdown on corruption within the police force, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested Mary Syombua Mutunga, the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) of Itabua Police Station in Embu, on allegations of extortion of public funds.
According to the EACC, the OCS is accused of demanding a bribe of Ksh 100,000 from a man and his wife.
In return, she allegedly promised to facilitate the release of their motor vehicle, which had been impounded and detained at the station without any justifiable cause.
“The OCS allegedly threatened to imprison them if they continued to insist on the release of their car without paying the demanded amount, the couple contacted the EACC for assistance,” the EACC said.
The complainants, frustrated and threatened with being put in cells, reached out to the EACC for assistance when the bribe demand persisted.
“Earlier in the week, EACC arrested the OCS for Itabua Police Station Mary Syombua Mutunga on allegations of demanding Kes. 100,000 in consequence of which she would facilitate release of the complainants’ motor vehicle impounded and detained at the station, allegedly without any justifiable cause,” explained EACC.
The EACC acted swiftly upon receiving the complaint. In a carefully planned operation, OCS Mary Syombua Mutunga was apprehended and subsequently escorted to the EACC Central Regional Office in Nyeri,where she was later released on a cash bail.
Following her release on cash bail, OCS Mutunga has been ordered to report back to the EACC on 7th August 2024 for further investigations.
The EACC is expected to continue its probe into the allegations, with the aim of ensuring that justice is served and that such practices are eradicated from the police force.