Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) Board Chairperson Josephat Gichunge Kabeabea has been arrested following coordinated raids by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) at his home and offices on Friday.
The operation is linked to allegations of bribery, extortion of investors, and unexplained wealth.
According to EACC, preliminary investigations indicate that Kabeabea allegedly demanded a Ksh 5 million bribe from a Chinese national associated with Hongda Automotive Limited.
The incident is reported to have occurred on Tuesday, when the board chair purportedly accused the company of trading in counterfeit products and threatened the owners with arrest unless they paid the bribe.
The complainants refused to comply, insisting the accusation was baseless.
EACC reports that Kabeabea allegedly lowered his demands several times—first from Ksh 5 million to Ksh 1 million, then to Ksh 300,000, before finally settling on Ksh 150,000.
When the company representatives said they did not have cash, he is said to have provided a mobile number to facilitate the transfer.
The Ksh 150,000 was later sent to a number believed to be registered to his personal driver.
Investigators have also confirmed that Kabeabea visited the company premises on November 10 and 11, and have collected statements and retrieved CCTV footage as part of the ongoing inquiry.
Kabeabea is currently being held at the Integrity Centre pending further interrogation and processing.
