The Chairperson of the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) Board of Directors, Josphat Gichunge Kabeabea, has been arraigned in court and charged with four counts of receiving a bribe, contrary to Section 6(1)(a) as read with Section 18 of the Anti-Bribery Act No. 47 of 2023.
The chairperson who is also former MP Tigania East is accused of demanding and receiving money from Chinese national Du Zhisheng on November 11, 2025, allegedly in exchange for halting enforcement action against him for purportedly dealing in counterfeit motor vehicle spare parts.
According to the charge sheet, the accused allegedly sought KSh 5 million from the complainant to prevent his arrest and prosecution. In the second count, he is said to have demanded KSh 1 million, while the third count alleges he requested an additional KSh 300,000.
The fourth count states that he received KSh 144,500 through a mobile number registered to Ntorui Erastus Kaibi, money believed to be part of the bribery scheme.
Kabeabea denied all the charges before the Nairobi anti-corruption magistrate Celesa Okore
During the bail hearing, the prosecution did not oppose the accused’s release but urged the court to impose bail terms commensurate with the seriousness of the allegations.
The State also requested that the accused be barred from interfering with witnesses, refrain from making public comments on the case, and deposit his passport in court.
Defence counsel Duncan Okatch welcomed the State’s decision not to oppose bail but objected to calls for enhanced bail terms, arguing that bail should not be tied to the alleged bribe amounts.
In her ruling, the magistrate noted that the conditions sought by the prosecution were intended to protect the integrity of the case and did not prejudice the accused.
She added that the accused could apply for temporary release of his passport if he needed to travel. She further directed all parties to refrain from making adverse public or media comments since the matter is before the court.
The magistrate ordered that Kabeabea be released on a KSh 2 million bond or a KSh 1 million cash bail. The prosecution was also directed to supply witness statements within 14 days.
Kabeabea was further ordered to deposit his passport in court and is prohibited from interfering with witnesses or commenting on the case, including on social media.
