EACC Arrests Kisii Institute Instructor for Demanding Bribes from Students

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested two technical college instructors over a Ksh40 million bribery scheme at the Kenya Institute of Highways and Building Technology (KIHBT), Kisii Campus, after reports emerged that students undertaking plant operation courses were being extorted before sitting their test-drive exams.

According to the Commission, instructors in the Plant Operation Department have allegedly been demanding a Ksh3,100 “facilitation” fee from every student scheduled to sit the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA)-administered driving tests.

Those who failed to pay the amount were automatically marked as having failed even before attempting the exam.

Investigators further established that students who paid the bribe were, in some cases, issued passing marks and certificates without undergoing the actual practical tests. The money collected, according to the investigations, was allegedly shared between theinstructors and NTSA examiners assigned to the centre.

EACC reports indicate that the bribery syndicate has been operational for years and was reportedly controlled by two KIHBT instructors.

The two are accused of collecting payments in cash and running parallel fee systems in violation of the institution’s regulations.

At the same time, the commission noted that learners were also allowed to pay school fees directly to the instructors, either in cash or through personal mobile money accounts, instead of using the official college pay bill number.

''Students who opt to pay directly (through the unlawful route) to the instructors are charged only Ksh40,000 instead of the mandatory Ksh65,000,'' EACC said.

Financial analysis conducted by investigators revealed that in the last three years, one of the suspects transacted over Ksh34 million via mobile money using two phone numbers, while the other one handled transactions amounting to Ksh8 million within the same period. These transactions are suspected to be proceeds of bribery and fee diversion.

During the operation conducted on November 28, EACC officers searched the campus and the homes of the two instructors,as well as NTSA officials linked to the scheme. The search led to the arrest of one of the suspects, from whom Ksh171,000 was recovered in an envelope hidden inside his jacket.

Meanwhile, the suspect was taken to Kisii Police Station for processing and further interrogation as investigators analyse documents and digital evidence seized during the raid.

The anti-graft agency is expected to forward the findings to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions upon conclusion of the investigations or prosecution of the two and other suspects.