Ombudsman raises alarm on graft in prisons service, demands action from IG, EACC

In a statement on Tuesday, the Ombudsman said that the vice was discovered upon review of the performance contracting returns submitted by the Ministry of Interior on the resolution of public complaints.

The Commission notes that out of seventeen complaints reported, twelve are corruption-related and involve the solicitation and receipt of money in exchange for recruitment, deployment, or other official favours. 

"Several of the implicated officers acknowledged receipt of the monies, refunded part or the whole of the amounts, or made express admissions during internal inquiries," read the report.

In one of the reported cases, a complainant claimed that he lent a police officer, identified as PC I.C, money accruing to Ksh.134,000 but she never refunded the money.

"Both parties were summoned and PC I.C agreed through an agreement to be paying Ksh.3,000 monthly," the Commission noted.

Another case involved a Ksh.495,000 bribe to an officer, Dr. I, on the promise that he will help the complainant’s cousin secure a job during recruitment.

Both parties were summoned and the matter was agreed to be investigated further.

The commission also reported another case where an officer identified as CPL F.K obtained Ksh.3 million, promising the complainant to help four boys secure a job in the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

An officer identified as CPL F.M also allegedly obtained a sum of Ksh.800,000 from him, promising to help his wife secure a job in KDF.

Both matters are before the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

More graft cases included Ksh.600,000 in recruitment facilitation, Ksh.870,000 in recruitment facilitation assistance, and over Ksh.4 million in recruitment promises given to different officers.

Some of the cases are ongoing and some have already been concluded.

The Ombudsman therefore recommends swift action from the State Department for Correctional Services, against the officers, including the summary dismissal of the concerned officers, based on their admissions and in strict compliance with due process requirements.

It  wants the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to commence action of the submitted names of implicated officers and publish a written status report within sixty days.

Likewise, it wants the Inspector General of Police to probe the names of individuals who offered or paid bribes to the DCI and also submit a status report to the Commission within sixty days.