Faith Masita
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested a Kilifi County revenue officer in a targeted anti-corruption operation after she allegedly demanded a bribe of hundreds of thousands of shillings to approve a construction project in Watamu.
The suspect, Sylvia Dhahabu Karisa, a building inspector attached to the approvals section in Watamu Municipality, is accused of soliciting KSh 435,000 from a complainant in exchange for facilitating construction approval. Investigations indicate that the amount was irregularly inflated to benefit the officer personally.
According to the complaint, county revenue officers visited a construction site in the Timboni area and issued charges totaling KSh 435,000—comprising KSh 73,000 for a perimeter wall and KSh 362,000 for additional structures. The complainant raised concerns that the figures were deliberately exaggerated beyond official rates.
EACC confirmed that it received the complaint on March 25, 2026, and launched preliminary investigations which established a bribe demand of KSh 400,000. Detectives then mounted a sting operation the following day, leading to Karisa’s arrest at the Watamu municipal offices.
She was subsequently escorted to the EACC Upper Coast Regional Office in Malindi for processing before being booked at Malindi Police Station. Authorities later released her on a cash bail of KSh 20,000 as investigations continue.
In a statement, the Commission warned public officials against exploiting their positions for personal gain, reiterating its resolve to eliminate bribery—particularly at critical service delivery points.
The arrest underscores renewed enforcement efforts by EACC targeting corruption within county governments, especially in sectors such as construction approvals that directly impact business operations and public trust.
