EACC on November 28, 2025, acting on obtained search warrants, carried out a comprehensive search operation at the Kenya Institute of Highways and Building Technology (KIHBT) Kisii Campus and the residences of three officials from KIHBT and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) in connection with an alleged bribery ring.
The Commission says that the bribery were meant to facilitate a pass in the NTSA-administered exams.
Further reports indicate that instructors were also collecting tuition fees directly via cash and personal mobile numbers, contrary to regulations that require payment strictly through the official school pay bill number.
Preliminary investigations identified two instructors, Philip Dawa and Fidel Omondi, as key operators of the syndicate.
All students were reportedly required to pay a Sh3,100 facilitation fee to pass driving tests.
Those who refused were automatically failed. The monies collected were shared with NTSA examiners. Some students received passing marks and certificates without undertaking the actual practical exams.
The official tuition fees at KIHBT are Sh65,000, plus Sh1,050 for registration, payable only via the designated pay bill number.
However, students who paid directly to instructors were charged only Sh40,000. Over the past three years, Philip Dawa transacted over Sh34 million via M-Pesa using two mobile numbers, while Fidel Omondi handled Sh8 million over the same period.
During the operation, Fidel Omondi was arrested at the campus. Authorities recovered Sh171,000 in an envelope from his jacket, along with other critical evidence for forensic analysis and further investigation.
He was processed at Kisii Police Station pending the completion of inquiries.
The EACC emphasized its continued commitment to fighting bribery at service delivery points.
“The Commission 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,” the statement read.
This operation highlights persistent vulnerabilities in technical training institutions, where systemic malpractice can compromise both educational outcomes and institutional credibility.
By uncovering the network, the EACC aims to restore public confidence in technical education, ensure compliance with regulations, and hold accountable those exploiting students for personal gain.
Authorities are expected to conduct further investigations into the full scope of collusion between instructors and NTSA examiners.
The case serves as a warning to public service institutions about the need for transparency and adherence to financial and procedural regulations.
As investigations continue, the Commission is poised to take measures that strengthen integrity and accountability within the education sector, safeguarding students and reinforcing the rule of law across Kenya’s technical institutions.
