An Ukambani benga musician, a female police officer and three other people were on Friday arrested for posing as EACC officers and “apprehending” a senior county official.
Kamba Benga musician Kyalo Kasee of Kalandini Boys Band and corporal Anne Mutheu were arrested after they staged a fake arrest of Kitui revenue director Roseline Kavata.
Police will file a miscellaneous application to detain the five.
“We are moving to court on Monday morning to seek orders to hold the suspects for a number of days as we conclude investigations,” Kitui Central sub-county police commander Peter Karanja said on Sunday.
The suspects, who were found with fake EACC identification badges, were disowned by the anti-graft agency which termed them fraudsters and imposters.
Karanja said a probe was on to establish if they had been involved in other fraudulent activities.
“Since we arrested them on Friday evening we have not concluded their file. That is why we will ask the court on Monday to grant us more time to keep the suspects. Once we are done we will present the file to the ODPP for prosecution approval,” Karanja said.
The suspects stormed Kavata’s office and staged the phoney arrest, after which they searched her office, accusing her of being engaged in graft.
They then escorted the revenue officer to her house within Kitui town and ransacked it in search of money she had allegedly stolen from the county government.
However, as her house was being turned upside down, Kavata called a fellow officer after suspecting that she was being harassed by crooks.
Her workmate alerted the police who moved in and arrested the fraudsters.
The CEC in-charge of treasury, Peter Kilonzo, condemned the activities.
He called on Kenyans who may have fallen into the hands of the crooks to file their complaints with the police for action.
Kilonzo said any officer found engaging in corrupt practices would be dismissed, reaffirming governor Julius Malombe’s anti- graft policy.
Public resources must be ring-fenced and used appropriately, he said, and assured residents that the county funds were secure.