Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho conducted a surprise nighttime raid on a major revenue collection roadblock, seizing Sh200,700 in cash that had been stashed away by officers.
Six officers at the Miritini roadblock on the Mombasa-Nairobi highway were arrested on Thursday at around 8pm after they failed to explain the source of the undeclared cash found in their pockets and office drawers. The officers included two cashiers and four inspectorate officers.
A search of the officers yielded significant amounts of cash, with one female officer found to have Sh80,000 in her handbag. Some of the officers claimed they had withdrawn the money from the bank for family projects.
Corruption Purge ¶
The arrested officers were taken to Changamwe police station to record statements and await arraignment. According to an official in Joho's inspection team, the officers could not account for the money or explain how they came across such large sums.
Governor Joho has vowed to continue fighting corruption at all levels, stating,
I will continue fighting corruption at all levels, top or bottom. No one will be spared and I hold no sacred cows.
The county reportedly loses around Sh1.5 million daily to corruption at the three main road barriers, Kongowea market, and key county government offices.
Response and Consequences ¶
Joho and county secretary Francis Thoya alleged that barrier officers collude with truck owners to evade taxes and cess by paying off certain officers. Drivers often deal directly with cashiers to avoid paying duty.
Thoya noted that Kongowea market collects only Sh300,000 daily, instead of the expected Sh1 million. He stated,
A cartel including revenue officers, inspectorate officers, and politicians are stealing from the county government. We are going to crack that cartel.
An insider told the Star that a major reorganization of revenue collection systems is expected to strengthen internal controls and seal loopholes that cost millions of shillings to corruption.
