The Ethical Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has brought charges against a revenue officer working for Kisumu County who operates from the Kisumu Bus Park because he allegedly asked for and accepted a bribe from a matatu driver which raises better evidence extortion activities at the busy transport center.
The bus park revenue officer Francis Muga Odhiambo entered the Kisumu Anti-Corruption Court on Tuesday to dispute accusations that he accepted a bribe worth Sh10,000.
The court allowed him to leave the detention center after he paid Sh20,000 cash bail or provided an alternative bond worth Sh50,000. The matter is scheduled for mention on February 25.
Allegations of Extortion
The EACC accused Odhiambo of demanding Sh18,500 from a businessman who operates a matatu on the Kisumu–Kisii route. He threatened to create fake criminal charges against the operator unless the payment was made.
The officer received a 10,000 Shilling bribe which he accepted on February 9, 2026. Police officers arrested him after they received information about his activities.
The EACC conducted its investigation after which it presented its results to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) who authorized the prosecution of the officer on Monday.
Complaints from Matatu Operators
The matatu operators have been claiming that they face continuous abuse which includes both harassment and extortion activities that take place at the Kisumu Bus Park. The terminus serves as an essential transportation hub that links Kisumu with different locations throughout western Kenya and other regions.
Some operators who are new to established routes like Kisumu–Kisii have reported that county enforcement officers and revenue officials demand unofficial payments from them before they receive parking space allocations or permission to operate without interruptions.
People who have resisted demanding payments face multiple inspections which include threats of arrest and intimidation from people who have been hired to scare them.
Pressure on County Administration
The Kisumu County Government develops enforcement rules to create better operations at the bus park while it controls revenue loss through its primary income track routes from the facility.
The prosecution of Odhiambo will trigger demands for new revenue collection changes at the bus park while people will investigate the transport operators’ claims about governmental office misuse and extortion practices.
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