Anti-Counterfeit Authority boss Josephat Kabeabea arrested as EACC raids his home

Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) Board Chairperson Josephat Gichunge Kabeabea has been arrested after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives raided his residence and offices on Friday, in an operation linked to allegations of bribery, extortion of investors and unexplained wealth.

According to EACC, the incident took place on November 11, 2025, when the ACA board chair allegedly accused the company of dealing in counterfeit goods and threatened the owners with arrest unless they paid the bribe.

The complainants reportedly declined to give in, insisting there was no lawful cause for the demand.

EACC says Kabeabea is then alleged to have progressively reduced the requested amount from Ksh.5 million to Ksh.1 million, then to Ksh.300,000, before finally settling at Ksh.150,000.

The Commission reports that after the owners said they did not have cash, the suspect allegedly provided a mobile phone number to facilitate the transfer. The Ksh.150,000 was later sent to the number, believed to be registered to his personal driver.

Investigators have since confirmed that Kabeabea visited the company’s premises on November 10 and 11. Statements have been recorded and CCTV footage retrieved as part of the probe.

EACC Head of Communication Stephen Karuga, who confirmed the raid, said the matter mirrors an earlier incident reported in October, in which Kabeabea allegedly demanded Ksh.10 million and received Ksh.8 million from UNIPRO Limited after threatening to implicate the firm in counterfeit dealings.

Kabeabea is currently being held at the Integrity Centre, awaiting further questioning and processing.