Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS)
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On Tuesday, detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) apprehended two individuals in Mombasa for allegedly extorting money from local shop owners.
The suspects, Tabitha Kwena and Wycliffe Nyamanya were accused of impersonating officials from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and conducting fraudulent inspections of goods in shops within the Bamburi area. During these operations, they reportedly detained shop owners and extorted money from them under the guise of enforcing standards. According to EACC investigators, the suspects were accompanied by a police officer, which lent credibility to their scheme. They accused shopkeepers of selling expired goods, using this claim as leverage to extort money from their victims.
The perpetrators had deceived local police officers into believing they were legitimate KEBS officials requiring police escort for a crackdown on expired goods in Mombasa shops. Upon receiving information about the ongoing scam, anti-graft detectives launched an operation at Kadzandani Mwatamba Police Station, where the arrested shop owners were being held and extorted in the presence of law enforcement officers. EACC officials have revealed that the fraudsters were demanding between Sh20,000 and Ksh50,000 as a condition for releasing the victims and returning their confiscated goods.
Following their arrest, the suspects were detained at Mombasa Central Police Station and are scheduled to appear before the Mombasa Anti-Corruption Court on Wednesday, September 9 at 9 am. The arrests came after KEBS raised concerns about an increase in cases of Kenyans impersonating KEBS officials to defraud unsuspecting citizens. KEBS report receiving numerous complaints from coastal residents about various illegal activities, including invasion of business premises, seizure of goods, imposition of on-the-spot fines, solicitation of bribes, and detention of individuals. In response to these incidents, KEBS has issued a notice clarifying its standard procedures for market surveillance.
The agency emphasizes that it conducts such activities according to approved plans under the Standards Act and does not impose on-the-spot penalties or fines on non-compliant individuals. KEBS inspectors are required to issue Sample Collection Forms and Seizure Notification Forms to alleged offenders, providing them with sufficient time to respond to the agency's findings, in compliance with the Fair Administrative Action Act. This incident highlights the ongoing challenge of corruption and fraud in Kenya, as similar cases have been reported in other parts of the country. The suspects, who presented themselves as consumer protection officers from a fictitious agency called 'Multi-Works and Rights Enforcement,' have a history of engaging in such illegal activities.
Preliminary investigations indicate that they have conducted similar scams in other regions, including Kakamega County, where Kwena had previously been arrested for extorting traders. The EACC has urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities involving impersonation of government officials. KEBS has also emphasized the need for traders to verify the identities of officials conducting inspections and to be aware of the proper procedures followed during market surveillance activities.