Four officials from the National Treasury’s Pensions Department, including an intern, have been arrested by detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) following a two-month covert operation into alleged bribery and extortion schemes within the department.
The suspects were identified as Wilkens Muhando Mugatsia (intern), Henry Odhiambo Otira (Senior Pensions Officer), Catherine Muthoni Murage (Senior Pensions Officer), and Byrson Mark (Chief Clerical Officer).
According to the EACC, preliminary investigations uncovered a criminal syndicate that was actively extorting members of the public seeking pension-related services. The alleged scheme involved directing unsuspecting applicants to make illicit payments via a mobile money paybill number linked to Mugatsia.
EACC Head of Corporate Affairs, Stephen Karuga, confirmed on Thursday that the paybill account had handled over Sh10.5 million in suspicious transactions over the last two years. Investigations revealed the account was registered under the name of Mugatsia’s mother, further complicating the scheme and pointing to a deliberate attempt to conceal the beneficiaries of the funds.
“These arrests follow detailed intelligence gathering and surveillance that revealed a pattern of bribery in the issuance of pension services,” Karuga stated.
All four suspects are currently being held at the Integrity Centre Police Station and are expected to be transferred to Kilimani Police Station as further investigations proceed. The suspects will likely face charges related to bribery, abuse of office, and economic crimes once the inquiry is complete.
The scandal raises serious questions about integrity and accountability in one of the country’s most sensitive public service sectors. Many pensioners have long complained of delays and obstacles in accessing their benefits—complaints that now appear to be tied to systemic corruption.
The EACC has reiterated its resolve to dismantle bribery networks within public institutions and reaffirmed its mandate to protect public interest and restore trust in government services.
“The Commission reiterates its commitment to tackling bribery at service delivery points to restore public trust and improve access to quality services for all citizens,” the EACC statement read.
This incident adds to a growing list of corruption cases in Kenya’s civil service and comes amid increased scrutiny of service delivery in government departments.
