EACC Detectives Apprehend Nakuru Water Official Following Discovery of Hidden Cash Stashed in Socks

EACC detectives arrest NAWASCO official Leonard Mutai in Nakuru, recovering cash hidden in his socks. Read about the sting operation triggered by a public complaint.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 24, 2026, 4:41 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from TUKO.co.ke

Anti-Graft Operation Targets Public Utility Corruption in Nakuru

A routine Monday morning turned into a high-stakes law enforcement action as officials from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) descended upon the Nakuru Water and Sewerage Company (NAWASCO). The target of the operation, identified as leak detection officer Leonard Cheruiyot Mutai, was apprehended following a discrete investigation into alleged extortion. This intervention serves as a direct response to a specific public grievance, emphasizing the EACC’s commitment to purging administrative offices of predatory financial practices. The swift nature of the arrest underscores a heightened state of vigilance among national anti-graft investigators.

Public Complaint Triggers Investigative Response in Langa Langa

The investigation originated from a report filed by a resident of Langa Langa Estate, who claimed that the official had demanded a KSh 15,000 bribe to facilitate the return of a confiscated water meter. Such complaints are increasingly common in urban centers where essential services are sometimes used as leverage for illicit gain. According to commission reports, the operation was strategically timed to catch the suspect in the act of receiving the marked funds. This reliance on citizen reporting is a cornerstone of the EACC’s current strategy to penetrate the localized layers of institutional bribery that often go undetected by high-level audits.

Detection of Unconventional Cash Storage Methods

Upon the suspect's arrest, the initial search by detectives yielded the KSh 15,000 believed to be the specific bribe from the complainant. However, a more thorough body search led to the discovery of significantly larger sums hidden in unusual locations. Most notably, KSh 100,000 was found stashed inside the officer’s socks, while an additional KSh 18,000 was retrieved from his coat pocket. The presence of such a large amount of cash on a civil servant during regular duty hours has raised serious questions regarding the scale of his activities. This discovery shifted the focus of the investigation from a single instance of bribery to a broader inquiry into potential habitual graft.