State House Official Warns Against Cartels Using His Name for Extortion of Cabinet Secretaries

04, Aug 2023 / 2 min read/ By Livenow Africa

Felix Koskei, the Head of Public Service, has expressed concern over a group of individuals who are fraudulently using his name to extort money, jobs, and tenders from cabinet secretaries and principal secretaries. In a statement released on Friday, Koskei revealed that these wheeler-dealers visit government offices, posing as his agents, to manipulate and blackmail state officials.

The alarming revelation sheds light on the activities of these cartels, who have been accused of perpetuating corruption and enriching themselves at the expense of taxpayers. Koskei has issued a warning to all cabinet secretaries and state officials, urging them to be cautious and vigilant when dealing with such suspicious requests.

The imposters falsely claim that they have the backing of Felix Koskei, using State House as leverage to push for favours. They also allege that part of the extorted money is meant as kickbacks to be paid to President William Ruto's right-hand man.

In response to these alarming reports, Koskei has initiated investigations to track down these cartels who have managed to infiltrate high offices. He emphasized that the era of criminals exploiting innocent Kenyans by misusing the names of senior state officials must come to an end.

To address the issue, Koskei has sent a letter to top government officials, urging them to be alert and report any suspicious individuals claiming to represent him. He assured that the government is committed to tackling corruption and ensuring that all Kenyans have equal access to government services without falling victim to extortion and manipulation.

The impersonation of senior government officials has become a recurring problem, with criminals going to great lengths, including creating fake social media accounts, to swindle unsuspecting Kenyans. In a related case last year, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) flagged 10 fake accounts that targeted high-profile figures such as First Lady Rachael Ruto, Ruto's Aide-de-Camp (ADC) Fabian Lengusuranga, and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki.

As the government continues its efforts to curb corruption and improve transparency, Koskei's warning serves as a reminder to remain vigilant against such deceptive schemes and to promptly report any suspicious activities to the authorities for swift action.

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