Business operators at the Port of Mombasa have raised alarm over alleged corruption and bribery involving a Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) officer accused of extorting huge sums from importers.
Zipporah Njoki Kangara, a quality analyst attached to the Mombasa office since 2009, is said to demand bribes ranging from Sh150,000 to Sh2 million before releasing containers. Several traders claim she routinely justifies the extortion by insisting that part of the money is forwarded to KEBS headquarters in Nairobi.
Her long stay at the Mombasa station—reportedly more than 20 years without transfer—has also fueled suspicion, with claims that she enjoys protection from senior KEBS officials, including the managing director and the human resources department.
“She brags that she cannot be touched because of the secrets she shares with those at the top,” one disgruntled importer said.
The official is further accused of amassing unexplained wealth. Despite her junior rank, she is linked to high-end vehicles including a Toyota Land Cruiser KCJ 007P and a V8 KBX 110W, which are said to be registered under her unemployed sister, Norah Nyambura Kangara. She is also alleged to own a multimillion-shilling residence in Utange, Bamburi.
“How can a junior officer afford such cars and houses on a government salary?” another complainant questioned.
Business owners are now urging investigative agencies to probe the source of her wealth, her reported ties with certain Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officers, and the alleged protection that has shielded her from scrutiny for years.
The growing discontent has put pressure on KEBS and other oversight bodies to act swiftly, as traders warn that unchecked corruption is not only increasing the cost of doing business but also eroding trust in regulatory institutions.
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