A Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) compliance officer, Evans Agumba Oriato, was arraigned before the Kisumu Anti-Corruption Court on Thursday, November 13, 2025, facing multiple charges of soliciting and receiving a bribe. The case, brought forward by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), has placed a renewed spotlight on the fight against corruption within Kenya's critical revenue collection body.

According to the EACC, Mr. Oriato, based at the KRA offices in Kisumu, is accused of demanding a Sh1 million bribe from representatives of Jane Memorial Secondary School. The inducement was allegedly to 'assist' the school in irregularly settling its tax returns for the years 2016 through 2020. EACC investigators reported that the initial demand was made on or around December 31, 2021, at which point Mr. Oriato allegedly received a down payment of Sh500,000.

The matter came to the attention of anti-graft authorities after Mr. Oriato persistently demanded the remaining balance from the school's officials, who then filed a formal complaint with the EACC's Western Regional Office in Kisumu. Acting on this report, the EACC orchestrated a sting operation which led to the officer's arrest as he was allegedly receiving an additional Sh250,000 of the demanded sum.

Investigation and Prosecution

Following his arrest, Mr. Oriato was processed at the EACC's regional offices and initially released on a cash bail of Sh100,000 pending the conclusion of the investigation. The EACC compiled its findings and forwarded the case file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which, after a review of the evidence, gave its concurrence to prosecute. Consequently, Mr. Oriato was summoned on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, booked at the Railways Police Station in Kisumu, and held overnight before his court appearance.

In court, he was formally charged with three counts of receiving a bribe, which is contrary to Section 6(1) as read with Section 18(1) and (2) of the Anti-Bribery Act, No. 47 of 2016. Mr. Oriato pleaded not guilty to all charges before Chief Magistrate Benson Ireri. He was subsequently released on a bond of Sh500,000 with a surety of a similar amount. The case is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on November 25, 2025.

Implications for Kenya's Anti-Corruption Efforts

This case emerges amidst a broader national effort to combat corruption and enhance integrity within public institutions. The KRA, central to Kenya's economic stability, has been under pressure to seal revenue leakages often attributed to unethical practices by some of its staff. In the first quarter of the 2024-25 financial year alone, the KRA dismissed 25 staff members in an anti-corruption purge and recovered Sh549 million from illicit wealth through lifestyle audits. President William Ruto has previously highlighted significant revenue losses due to collusion between KRA officials and traders.

The EACC has been actively conducting anti-corruption operations across the country, including recent arrests of traffic police officers on the Kisumu-Busia highway for extortion. The commission has also been vocal about bribery in public service recruitment, warning that such practices undermine meritocracy and public trust. The prosecution of Mr. Oriato serves as a public example of the EACC's stated commitment to holding officials accountable. In a statement, the commission reiterated that this case is part of an ongoing crackdown on bribery at public service delivery points aimed at improving transparency and access to government services for all Kenyans.

Under Kenyan law, bribery is a serious offence. The Bribery Act of 2016 stipulates a penalty of a fine not exceeding Sh5 million, imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years, or both, for individuals found guilty of giving or receiving a bribe. The law also mandates that public and private entities establish procedures to prevent bribery. This legal framework underscores the gravity of the charges Mr. Oriato faces and the potential consequences if convicted, which could include being barred from holding public office.