- The EACC has determined that Johnson Adera, the Director of Legal Services at the Anti-Counterfeit Agency, took bribes totaling Ksh40 million to allow the unchecked trade of counterfeit goods in the country.
- Adera allegedly received the funds over five years, both directly and through proxies, using the money to pay school fees for his children and settle utility bills.
- The EACC’s investigation uncovered evidence linking him to a bribery scheme that endangered public safety by permitting counterfeit products to flood the market.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has unearthed a massive Ksh40 million bribery scandal involving Johnson Adera, the Director of Legal Services and Corporate Secretary at the Anti-Counterfeit Agency (ACA).
The senior official is accused of facilitating the unchecked trade of counterfeit goods in exchange for kickbacks, jeopardizing public health and safety.
In a statement released on Sunday, January 26, 2025, EACC spokesperson Eric Ngumbi revealed that investigations spanning the financial years 2019/2020 to 2024/2025 established that Adera had received Ksh40,344,619 in bribes.
Follow our Facebook page for more updates:
These payments, made by traders dealing in counterfeit goods, were allegedly intended to guarantee immunity from sanctions and regulatory scrutiny.
“The sale of counterfeit goods endangers lives, undermines legitimate businesses, and diminishes public trust in regulatory institutions. Members of the public should remain vigilant and report all such cases to the EACC for action,” the EACC stated, highlighting the seriousness of the crime.
Adera reportedly received bribes directly and through family members and proxies, with some of the funds used to pay school fees for his children and cover utility bills.
The suspect was apprehended after EACC conducted a search operation at his premises, yielding critical evidence for the ongoing investigation.
He was later released from the EACC Integrity Centre pending the conclusion of the probe.
This case is part of a broader EACC crackdown on corruption at service delivery points, a priority outlined by EACC CEO Abdi Mohamud during his swearing-in ceremony on January 13, 2025.
Mohamud emphasized that corruption at all levels, whether petty or grand, fosters a culture of impunity and compromises public service delivery.
Follow our Facebook page for more updates:
“The Commission will tackle bribery and corruption at service delivery points with the same vigor applied to grand corruption cases,” Mohamud affirmed, signaling intensified efforts to restore integrity in public institutions.
The EACC urged the public to report any suspicious activities involving counterfeit goods to ensure accountability and protect citizens from the risks associated with illicit trade.
