EACC sleuths arrest Kitui revenue collectors over fake receipts

Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission sleuths arrested four revenue collectors working with the County Government of Kitui on Thursday over fraud allegations.

Kitui County CEC for Finance, Economic Planning and Revenue Management Peter Kilonzo (pictured) confirmed the arrests of four county revenue collectors at Kanyonyoo cess point over fake receipts. The arrests were made by EACC sleuths. The four will spend the night at Kanyonyoo police station/MWINGI TIMES 

The four were detained at Kanyonyoo police station where they will spend Thursday night cooling their heels as investigations continue.

The four revenue collectors were arrested as they manned a toll and cess point. It is alleged that they were using a fake receipt book to collect revenue from vehicles carrying charcoal, sand and livestock. The vehicles use the busy Nairobi-Garissa highway to transport their products from Kitui County.

Contacted, the minister in-Charge of finance, economic planning and revenue management in Kitui County, Mr Peter Kilonzo confirmed the arrests on Thursday evening. He said that the county is yet to know why they were arrested by the EACC sleuths. He added that rehy were waiting to get details over the matter.

The County Executive Committee Member (CEC)  said that initial information reaching his desk showed that the four were arrested due to using unauthorized receipt books to collect revenue. " We were told that the mobile phone sets for all the arrested offices were confiscated before being put behind bars", said  Finance CEC Kilonzo.

The Kitui County finance boss said they were working with the EACC to verify the exact offense the arrested officers committed.

STORY By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT