EACC arrests NTSA officer over driving licence bribe

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested an officer attached to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) following allegations of extortion and corruption regarding the issuance of driving licences.

According to official reports, the suspect allegedly demanded a bribe of Sh18,000 from a matatu driver to facilitate the processing of a driving licence.

The operation culminated on Wednesday within the NTSA headquarters, where investigators apprehended the official red-handed.

Confirming the arrest, the anti-graft body detailed the circumstances of the sting operation:

“The officer was arrested on Wednesday following investigations into a complaint by a matatu driver who alleged that the suspect had demanded Sh18,000 to facilitate the issuance of the licence.”

Investigators revealed that the suspect was caught in the act while accepting a portion of the demanded sum.

“According to the EACC, the officer was arrested within the NTSA headquarters while receiving Ksh8,000, which was part of the alleged bribe.”

Following the apprehension, the suspect was transferred to the EACC's Integrity Centre for mandatory processing. Authorities confirmed that the individual was later released on a cash bail of Ksh50,000 as comprehensive investigations into the matter continue.

In the wake of the incident, the commission issued a stern warning against graft at public service windows, emphasizing its ongoing focus on institutional accountability:

“The commission reiterates its commitment to tackling bribery at service delivery points, thereby restoring public trust and improving access to quality services for all citizens.”

This arrest places renewed scrutiny on the NTSA, an institution that has frequently featured in public sector corruption reports. Motorists across the country have historically raised concerns over service delays, irregular vehicle registrations, and unauthorized payments demanded at various operational counters.

Statistical insights from recent governance studies highlight the scale of the challenge. A comprehensive assessment released last year, the Kenya National Gender and Corruption Survey 2025, ranked NTSA officials among public sector workers flagged for receiving illicit payments, with the average payment reported at Ksh3,868.

Public frustration with the transport regulatory environment has previously boiled over into demonstrations.

In October of last year, civil society groups and transport stakeholders staged protests outside the NTSA headquarters.

The demonstrations, spearheaded by the Road Safety Association of Kenya, called for sweeping institutional reforms and decisive legal action against officials accused of facilitating corruption within the transport sector.

Law enforcement agencies have intensified efforts to dismantle fraudulent syndicates operating within transport registry systems.

In a high-profile crackdown in October 2023, Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives arrested 11 people suspected of involvement in fraudulent motor vehicle registrations.

That crackdown followed an extensive system audit of NTSA’s Transport Integrated Management System (TIMS).

The audit reportedly uncovered massive irregularities, including 47 motor vehicles whose physical chassis details had been altered, alongside 54 other units that were fraudulently integrated into the system between March and April of that year.

As investigations into the latest driving licence bribery case proceed, the EACC continues to urge members of the public and transport operators to report any incidents of extortion or corruption encountered at public service delivery points.