Mombasa, Kenya – A Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officer charged with soliciting a bribe to terminate a criminal case has been released on a Ksh.100,000 cash bail. Sgt. Thomas Nahashon Kibet, based at Changamwe Police Station in Mombasa County, faced the charges following investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
The officer was arrested on Thursday and held at Port Police Station after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) approved EACC’s recommendation to press charges. He was arraigned before Mombasa Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku, where he denied the accusations.
Court documents indicate that in June 2018, Sgt. Kibet allegedly solicited a Ksh.20,000 bribe from a complainant to terminate a criminal case. It is reported that he received an initial Ksh.10,000 as part of the requested amount. The court also heard that he later concealed evidence of receiving an additional Ksh.7,000, which was to be presented in the case.
The suspect faced three counts: soliciting a bribe, receiving financial advantage, and concealing evidence, all contrary to anti-corruption laws. “On the 6th day of June 2018, at Changamwe Police Station, within Mombasa County, being an employee of the National Police Service, you requested a financial advantage of Ksh.20,000 and received Ksh.10,000 to compromise an investigation and terminate the case,” the court documents stated.
After pleading not guilty, Sgt. Kibet was released on a cash bail of Ksh.100,000 or an alternative bond of Ksh.300,000. The case will be mentioned in court on February 10, 2025.
The arrest underscores ongoing efforts by the EACC to combat corruption within the police service and other public offices. It also highlights the challenges facing law enforcement in ensuring integrity among officers tasked with upholding the law.
Cases of police officers accused of corruption have raised public concern about the state of accountability in the National Police Service. The ODPP and EACC continue to collaborate to address these issues and ensure that justice prevails.
As the case proceeds, it will serve as a litmus test for the government’s commitment to curbing corruption and fostering trust in public institutions.
