Anti-graft team arrests six Lands Registry officials

South Nyanza EACC Regional Director David Kang'ara speaks to journalists shortly after his officers raided Kisii Lands Registry on September 26, 2018. Six officers were arrested. PHOTO | MAGATI OBEBO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Officials arrested Wednesday evening at Kiss Lands Registry.
  • Some treated money and other cash was recovered during the operation

  • The suspects will appear in court as EACC gets a nod from the DPP

The Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) officials on Wednesday evening arrested six Kisii Lands Registry officials, among them the regional boss following a sting operation.

Also picked up was a local broker who detectives claim helps facilitate bribes between the land officials and members of the public seeking services.

TREATED MONEY

Some treated money and other cash was recovered during the operation led by the EACC South Nyanza region director David Kang’ara.

“We have recovered Sh34,000 of the cash they were extorting from the public,” said Mr Kang'ara.

Several files were carted away during the operation.

"The suspects will appear in court as soon the commission gets a nod from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions," said Mr Kang'ara.

Mr Kang’ara said the operation was aimed at ending graft and eliminating cartels at the Lands registry.

MORE RAIDS

"The arrests follow extortion claims from members of the public who accused the officials at the registry of demanding for money in order to render needed services," said Kang’ara vowing that there will be more of such raids.

The suspects will be arraigned in court as soon as the Commission is granted permission from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to prosecute them, he added.

For the better part of Wednesday, the agency officials had camped Lands office since morning and filming suspicious operations.

"Some craft land officers were caught as they received bribes from the public," said Kang’ara.

The plan to raid the lands office was hatched three months ago following a flurry of complaints.

LONG OVERDUE

The Kisii lands office had been the epicentre of protests from land activists pressing for the sacking of the registry officials.

County governance director, Mr Rachael Otundo lauded the operation but termed it long overdue.

“We had been left at the mercies of incompetent workers and corrupt officers. This raid was long overdue and we want more action," she said adding that most of the clerks, besides extorting money from the public, lack customer service skills.