The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), on  November 28, 2025, upon obtaining search warrants, conducted a search operation at the Kenya Institute of Highways and Building Technology (KIHBT) Kisii Campus, as well as the residences of three officials from KIHBT and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), in relation to an alleged bribery ring at the institute.

The operation followed reports that instructors in the Plant Operation Department have been soliciting and receiving bribes from students scheduled to undertake test-drive exams.

It is alleged that the demanded amounts were meant to “facilitate” a pass in the NTSA-administered exams.

Further reports indicate that KIHBT instructors have also been collecting school fees directly in cash and through their personal mobile phone numbers and those of proxies, contrary to college regulations that require fees to be paid strictly via the designated school pay bill number.

Preliminary Investigation Findings

Preliminary investigations have established:

• The syndicate is operated by two KIHBT instructors, namely Philip Dawa and Fidel Omondi.
• All students are required to pay a “facilitation” fee of Ksh3,100, collected in cash by Fidel Omondi, for them to pass driving test exams; those who do not pay are automatically failed.
• The monies collected by Fidel Omondi are shared between NTSA examiners and the two KIHBT instructors. After paying the KSh3,100 facilitation fee, students at times do not undertake actual practical exams but still receive passing marks and certificates.

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• The required tuition fees for the KIHBT campus, payable strictly via a designated pay bill number, is Ksh65,000, with an additional Ksh1,050 for registration.
• Students who opt to pay directly to the instructors are charged only KSh40,000 instead of the mandatory KSh65,000.
• In the last three years, Philip Dawa has transacted over Ksh34 million via M-Pesa using two mobile numbers, while Fidel Omondi has made M-Pesa transactions totaling Kes8 million within the same period.

Also Read: EACC Orders All State and Public Officers to Declare Assets for 2025

Official Arrested

The operation led to the arrest of Fidel Omondi, from whom Ksh171,000 was recovered in an envelope inside his jacket, in addition to other critical evidentiary material confiscated for analysis and further investigation.

The suspect was arrested and processed at the Kisii Police Station pending completion of investigations.

The Commission reiterates its commitment to tackling bribery at service delivery points and encourages members of the public to report any unethical conduct through the Commission’s toll-free hotline 1551 or at any of its regional offices nationwide.

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EACC structure for illustration purposes. PHOTO/Pixels