Police officers attached to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption (EACC) have arrested Tana River County’s Chief Finance Officer with Sh2.7 million in cash.
Mariam Abdalla Bunu was arrested on Tuesday at Malindi International Airport while on her way to Nairobi for official duty.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) said she had not declared the money and failed to offer any explanation upon questioning.
“The Chief Officer was unable to explain at the Airport and did not declare as required,” the agency stated on Thursday.
The EACC said it suspected that the money was corruptly obtained from Tana River County.
Bunu was escorted to EACC Malindi Offices to record a statement.
The EACC said it was investigating Bunu for possible embezzlement of public funds, abuse of office and dealing with suspect property.
The law required any person entering or leaving Kenya to declare monies in cash above Sh500,000.
“Any person leaving or entering Kenya may take out or bring into Kenya currency up to a maximum of five hundred thousand (KSh. 500,000) shillings or the equivalent of five thousand United States dollars (US$ 5,000) in foreign currency,” the Central Bank of Kenya (Declaration of Currency) Regulations, states in part.
“Any person in possession of currency exceeding the limits specified in regulation 2 shall declare the amount to the Customs Officer at the point of entry or departure,” the regulations further provide.
