A senior official at the Kericho County Lands Registry has been arrested for allegedly demanding and receiving a bribe to facilitate land documentation.
In a statement on Tuesday, September 30, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) confirmed the arrest of Dallington Kipkurui Mutai, the Senior Clerical Officer at the Kericho County Lands Registry.
According to the EACC, Mutai was reportedly extorting money from residents seeking title deeds.
"The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), through its South Rift Regional Office, has today arrested Senior Clerical Officer at the Kericho County Lands Registry, Dallington Kipkurui Mutai, who demanded and received Ksh210,000 to facilitate the preparation of title deeds for two parcels of land," the statement read.
According to the commission, the arrest followed a sting operation after multiple reports from locals who claimed the suspect had turned bribe demands into a routine practice.
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"He was arrested in an operation mounted by the Commission following investigations into multiple complaints from Kericho residents that the Senior Clerk had made it a routine to demand a ‘facilitation fee’ before initiating the production of title deeds," the statement added.
Following the arrest, the suspect was processed and released on bail as investigations continue.
"The suspect was escorted to Kericho Police Station, where he was processed and later released on a cash bail of Ksh50,000 pending the conclusion of investigations," the statement further read.
The EACC noted that this operation was part of broader efforts to ensure accountability in institutions that provide critical services to Kenyans.
"The operation is part of the ongoing crackdown on bribery in public service delivery to improve access to quality services for all citizens. The Commission will continue to scale up intelligence gathering and surveillance targeting public institutions that provide essential services and are prone to bribery," the statement concluded.
This comes a week after EACC detectives arrested Busia Land Registrar Collins Aiela Liyayi for allegedly demanding and receiving a bribe of Ksh10,000.
In a statement on Wednesday, September 24, EACC said the suspect demanded the bribe to release a title deed.
The commission noted that Liyayi had processed the complainant’s title deed but withheld it, demanding a bribe.
The Busia Land Registrar was arrested on Tuesday, September 23 afternoon in an operation mounted by EACC’s Western Regional Office.
“The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), through its Western Regional Office, on Tuesday afternoon arrested Busia Land Registrar Collins Aiela Liyayi, who demanded and received a bribe of Kes 10,000 from the complainant in order to release a title deed he had processed but withheld pending payment of the bribe as ‘release fees’,” EACC stated.
The commission said it had received multiple complaints from Busia residents that the Land Registrar withheld titles at the Lands Registry and demanded bribes before releasing them to the owners.
Following the arrest, Liyali was escorted to the EACC Western Regional Office in Bungoma, where he was processed and later booked at Bungoma Police Station.
EACC said the operation is part of the ongoing crackdown on bribery in public service delivery to improve access to quality services for all citizens.
“The Commission will continue to scale up intelligence gathering and surveillance targeting public institutions that provide essential services and are prone to bribery,” EACC added.
