The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested a man suspected of posing as one of its top officials to con unsuspecting Kenyans out of millions of shillings.
The suspect, Kennedy Ochieng Agutu, was taken into custody following numerous complaints from victims who claimed he extorted money while pretending to be an Assistant Director of Intelligence Operations at the EACC.
Agutu, posing as a senior EACC official, allegedly targeted high-profile individuals, including government officials, by claiming they were under investigation for corruption. He would then offer to “resolve” their cases in exchange for large sums of money.
The suspect was arrested at his hideout in South C and taken to the EACC Integrity Centre Police Station for processing. He is expected to be held at Kilimani Police Station as further action is taken.
During the arrest, authorities recovered two fake identification cards: one from the EACC and another from an organisation called the Kenya Network Against Corruption, which listed Agutu as the “Director of Intelligence & Data Survey.”
The EACC has reported an alarming rise in fraudsters posing as its detectives. In 2024 alone, over 350 cases of imposters pretending to be EACC officers or other law enforcement personnel have been recorded.
Many of these conmen have set up fake EACC offices, particularly in Kakamega, Bungoma, and Busia counties, offering “anti-corruption services” for a fee.
One such entity, the Anti-Corruption Investigations Agency, has allegedly been charging the public to handle corruption-related disputes. Other imposters have been issuing fake EACC Integrity Clearance certificates to job seekers, a service that the real EACC provides for free.
Additionally, some fraudsters have carried out bogus investigations, arrests, and searches, demanding bribes to manipulate outcomes in favour of their victims or to dismiss potential charges.
The EACC has warned the public to be cautious of individuals claiming to be officers and encourages anyone who encounters suspicious persons to report them to the Commission.