KRA Officer Arraigned for Allegedly Receiving KES 500,000 Bribe

A Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) compliance officer was on Wednesday charged before the Kisumu Anti-Corruption Court for allegedly soliciting and receiving a KES 500,000 bribe in exchange for assistance in tax filing.

Evans Agumba Oriato, who is stationed in Kisumu, was arrested following investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). The Commission alleges that the officer solicited the money to help Jane Memorial Secondary School file tax returns for the years 2016 to 2020.

According to EACC, the case began when the complainant reported that Oriato had summoned school representatives to his office to discuss irregularities in filing nil returns.

On December 31, 2021, he allegedly demanded KES 1 million to “resolve” the issue and received an initial payment of KES 500,000. He is said to have continued demanding the balance, prompting the complainants to alert the anti-graft body.

EACC officers then conducted a sting operation, arresting Oriato while he was allegedly receiving a further KES 250,000. He was processed at EACC’s Western Regional Office in Kisumu and later released on a cash bail of KES 100,000 pending completion of investigations.

After reviewing the evidence, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) approved charges against the officer. Oriato was subsequently summoned on November 12, 2025, detained overnight, and arraigned the following day.

He now faces three counts of receiving a bribe contrary to Section 6(1), read with Section 18(1) and (2), of the Anti-Bribery Act No. 47 of 2016. Oriato denied all charges and was released on a bond of KES 500,000 with a surety of a similar amount.

EACC stated that the operation is part of its ongoing efforts to eliminate bribery in public service delivery points and enhance access to quality services for Kenyans.