Faith Masita
A leak detection officer attached to Nakuru Water and Sewerage Company (NAWASCO) has been arrested by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over alleged bribery, in a targeted operation stemming from a public complaint.
The suspect, Leonard Cheruiyot Mutai, was apprehended on March 23, 2026, in Nakuru while reportedly receiving KSh 15,000 from a complainant. The payment is alleged to have been solicited to facilitate the replacement of a confiscated water meter in Langa Langa Estate.
According to investigators, the arrest followed a tip-off from a member of the public who claimed the officer had demanded the bribe as a condition for restoring water services. Acting on the report, EACC officers mounted an operation that culminated in the suspect being caught in the act.
A search conducted during the arrest yielded additional cash, raising further suspicion. Detectives recovered KSh 15,000 from the transaction, KSh 100,000 concealed in socks, and another KSh 18,000 from the suspect’s coat pocket.
“The operation was informed by a complaint from a member of the public, and the suspect was arrested while receiving the bribe,” EACC officials stated, underscoring the Commission’s continued reliance on citizen reporting to combat corruption
“The operation was informed by a complaint from a member of the public, and the suspect was arrested while receiving the bribe,” EACC officials stated, underscoring the Commission’s continued reliance on citizen reporting to combat corruption
Following the arrest, Mutai was taken to the Commission’s South Rift Regional Office in Nakuru for processing before being detained at Central Police Station. He has since been released on a police cash bail of KSh 20,000 as investigations continue.
The Commission indicated that further inquiries are underway to establish whether the incident is part of a broader pattern of extortion within service delivery systems.
“We urge members of the public to report corruption and to stand firm against bribery,” the agency added, reiterating its call for vigilance and cooperation in the fight against graft.
“We urge members of the public to report corruption and to stand firm against bribery,” the agency added, reiterating its call for vigilance and cooperation in the fight against graft.
The arrest highlights ongoing efforts by the anti-graft body to clamp down on corruption at the point of service delivery, where ordinary citizens are often most vulnerable to exploitation.
