Two police officers attached to the Kenya Power Coast Regional Office have been arrested in Mombasa over allegations that they demanded a Sh100,000 bribe from a resident accused of illegally connecting electricity to his home.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) identified the suspects as Inspector Benjamin Ochieng and Corporal Said Bakari. The two were arrested on Monday, August 24, following an operation mounted by the anti-graft agency after the complainant reported the alleged demand.
According to investigators, the officers allegedly told the Bombolulu resident that he could avoid further investigations and possible legal action over the alleged illegal electricity connection if he paid them Sh100,000.
The case has brought renewed attention to corruption risks surrounding electricity enforcement, particularly where customers accused of illegal connections may face the prospect of prosecution or disconnection.
How the alleged bribe demand unfolded
The matter came to the attention of EACC after the complainant reported that the two officers had allegedly demanded money in connection with an electricity connection at his residence in Bombolulu, Mombasa.
The officers allegedly offered to stop the investigation and refrain from pursuing legal action if the resident paid the requested amount.
Rather than hand over the money without reporting the matter, the complainant approached the anti-corruption agency, which subsequently launched investigations.
The inquiry culminated in a controlled operation on August 24.
Investigators established that the officers allegedly accompanied the complainant to a bank along Moi Avenue, where they were expected to collect the money.
The operation ended with the arrest of the two suspects opposite DTB Bank after they allegedly received Sh50,000 from the complainant.
The amount was reportedly part of the Sh100,000 that the officers were accused of demanding.
Officers released on cash bail
Following their arrest, Ochieng and Bakari were taken to Central Police Station in Mombasa for processing.
They were later released on Sh30,000 cash bail each as investigations continue.
The arrests do not amount to a conviction. The allegations against the two officers will have to be tested through the appropriate legal process should the matter proceed to prosecution.
EACC said it remains committed to investigating bribery allegations and ensuring that public officers maintain integrity and accountability while carrying out their duties.
Illegal electricity connections under scrutiny
The allegations are linked to one of the persistent challenges facing Kenya’s electricity sector: illegal connections and electricity-related fraud.
Illegal connections can pose serious safety risks, including electrocution, electrical fires and damage to the power distribution network. They can also result in revenue losses for Kenya Power and affect the reliability of electricity supply.
Kenya Power has repeatedly urged members of the public to avoid unauthorised connections and report suspected illegal activity.
The company has also previously worked with law-enforcement agencies to investigate cases involving electricity theft, vandalism and fraudulent manipulation of customer accounts.
However, allegations of corruption involving officials responsible for enforcing electricity regulations present a separate challenge.
Where enforcement officers demand money to overlook an alleged offence, the issue extends beyond the individual case and raises questions about the integrity of systems designed to protect public infrastructure and consumers.
EACC intensifies anti-corruption operations
The Mombasa arrests come as EACC continues to conduct operations targeting alleged bribery involving public officers.
The commission has increasingly relied on complaints from members of the public to identify officials accused of soliciting or receiving bribes.
In such cases, investigators may conduct surveillance and controlled operations intended to establish whether an alleged demand was made and whether money was subsequently received.
The Mombasa operation followed that pattern, with investigators moving in after the suspects allegedly received part of the money demanded from the complainant.
EACC has urged members of the public to report suspected corruption rather than comply with demands for illegal payments.
Previous Kenya Power bribery cases
The latest allegations are not the first corruption case involving Kenya Power personnel in the Coast region.
In 2024, EACC arrested a Kenya Power employee in Kwale after an allegation that he had demanded Sh100,000 to reconnect a disconnected electricity meter. Investigators said the employee had received Sh70,000 as an advance payment before his arrest.
EACC records have also documented previous investigations involving Kenya Power employees accused of demanding financial benefits in connection with electricity reconnections and illegal connections.
These cases demonstrate the recurring nature of corruption risks in electricity-related services, particularly where officials have discretion over inspections, disconnections, reconnections and enforcement.
Why the case matters
Electricity is an essential service, and disputes involving connections, disconnections and alleged electricity theft can place consumers in difficult situations.
For households and businesses accused of illegal connections, the threat of legal action can create pressure to resolve matters quickly. That makes transparency in enforcement particularly important.
Anti-corruption investigators argue that public officers should follow established procedures when dealing with suspected offences rather than seek personal financial gain.
The latest arrests therefore serve as a reminder that demands for unofficial payments can be reported and investigated.
At the same time, the case highlights the importance of ensuring that allegations are handled through due process. The suspects remain innocent unless proven guilty in court.
What happens next?
The EACC investigation will now determine whether sufficient evidence exists to support criminal charges against the two officers.
Investigators are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged demand, the controlled payment and the roles played by the suspects.
The commission could subsequently forward its findings to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for a decision on whether to prosecute.
For now, the two officers remain out on cash bail as investigations continue.
The case has nevertheless delivered a strong warning to public officers involved in electricity enforcement: alleged attempts to use official authority to solicit money can attract the attention of anti-corruption investigators.
For residents, it also reinforces the importance of reporting suspected bribery rather than quietly submitting to illegal demands.
