A Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officer, Evans Agumba Oriato, is facing serious bribery charges after allegedly soliciting and receiving a total of Ksh 750,000 to manipulate tax documents for Jane Adeny Memorial School. Oriato, a Customer Care Officer at the KRA Kisumu office, appeared before the Kisumu Anti-Corruption Court on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, where he denied three counts of receiving a bribe.
According to court documents, Oriato allegedly demanded Ksh 1 million to facilitate the filing of “nil returns” for the school’s tax obligations between 2016 and 2020. A down payment of Ksh 500,000 was made on December 31, 2021, with the remainder payable upon completion of the process. Persistent demands for the balance prompted an Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) operation, which intercepted Oriato receiving an additional Ksh 250,000.
“This case represents the commission’s commitment to rooting out corruption in public service and upholding the integrity of our institutions,” an EACC spokesperson said.
The charges against Oriato contravene Section 6(1) as read with Section 18(1) and (2) of the Bribery Act No. 47 of 2016. During his arraignment, Chief Magistrate Benson Ireri released Oriato on a Ksh 500,000 bond with a surety of similar value. The case is scheduled for pre-trial directions on November 25, 2025.
Legal analysts note that the incident highlights persistent corruption risks within tax administration and the need for robust oversight to protect both institutions and taxpayers. The case also reinforces the EACC’s mandate under Article 79 of the Constitution and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2011, aimed at promoting accountability and integrity in public service.
