Garissa County Chief Arrested for Extorting Refugees: EACC Uncovers Corruption Scheme
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) recently apprehended a local chief in Garissa County on allegations of extorting money from refugees who visit his office seeking services.
According to an EACC statement released on Tuesday, Abdirahman Shafe Yussuf, the Chief of Bulla Mzuri Location, has been exploiting the refugees during the ongoing de-registration process of their fingerprints from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) system.
The EACC revealed that Yussuf has been demanding bribes from the refugees under the guise of a “consultation fee” and a “facilitation fee.”
Specifically, he allegedly requires each service seeker to pay Ksh. 3000 as a consultation fee and an additional Ksh. 10,000 as a facilitation fee, even though these services are officially supposed to be free of charge.
This illegal practice has placed a significant financial burden on the refugees, who are already in vulnerable positions.
Further investigation by the EACC indicated that all refugees seeking assistance were instructed to make these illegal payments before they could receive any services.
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The payments were collected by Yussuf’s accomplice, who operated from a vehicle parked outside the vetting hall where the de-registration process was taking place.
This systematic extortion scheme was carefully planned to ensure that no service was provided without the illicit payments being made first.
Last Thursday, Yussuf was caught in the act of extorting money from refugees. Following a thorough search, the authorities recovered a stash of Ksh. 139,000, which is believed to be part of the day’s illicit earnings.
Additionally, officers found a list containing the names of 85 applicants who had registered twice, along with the specific amounts each had paid as bribes.
This list provided concrete evidence of the widespread nature of the extortion scheme and the extent of Yussuf’s corrupt activities.
After his arrest, Yussuf was taken to the EACC Garissa Regional Office for processing.
He was subsequently released on police bond pending the completion of the investigation.
The EACC is determined to carry out a thorough probe to ensure that justice is served and that such corrupt practices are eradicated.
The EACC has strongly condemned the actions of public officials like Yussuf who abuse their positions of power to exploit vulnerable individuals for financial gain.
The Commission emphasized that such behavior is not only illegal but also morally reprehensible, as it undermines the trust and integrity of public service institutions.
The EACC has called on members of the public to come forward and report any similar incidents of corruption, assuring them that their reports will be taken seriously and that measures will be put in place to protect whistleblowers.
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In its statement, the EACC reaffirmed its commitment to fighting corruption and promoting ethical conduct among public officers.
The Commission underscored the importance of transparency and accountability in public service, highlighting that public officials have a duty to serve with integrity and respect the rights of those they are meant to help.
The EACC’s actions in this case are part of a broader effort to root out corruption and ensure that public services are delivered fairly and without undue burden to the citizens, especially the most vulnerable groups such as refugees.
The EACC’s intervention in Garissa County sends a clear message that corruption will not be tolerated and that those who engage in such activities will face the full force of the law.
The Commission’s proactive stance aims to deter other public officials from engaging in similar corrupt practices and to restore public confidence in the integrity of public service institutions.
The EACC continues to encourage the public to remain vigilant and to report any instances of corruption they encounter, as collective action is crucial in the fight against corruption.
Garissa County Chief Arrested for Extorting Refugees: EACC Uncovers Corruption Scheme