A web of M-Pesa transactions — Kenya’s ubiquitous mobile money payment system used for everyday transfers, bills and business payments — and text messages has been cited in court documents as evidence in an alleged bribery scheme involving staff at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), according to filings seen by BusinessDaily.

Investigators allege that some KRA officials colluded with taxpayers and intermediaries to solicit and launder bribes through mobile money transfers, disguising the payments as “soft loans” or contributions to informal savings groups to evade detection.

Prosecutors say the scheme relied on routine-looking M-Pesa transfers to mask illicit payments linked to tax administration decisions, allowing the transactions to blend in with legitimate personal transfers.

The officials are accused of reducing government revenue by issuing favourable tax treatment or special clearances in exchange for the mobile payments, investigators allege.

Text messages linked to the M-Pesa numbers referenced in the case allegedly show coordination between tax officers and third parties over the timing and structuring of payments, with transfers framed as everyday transactions to avoid triggering internal compliance controls.

The case underscores the increasing role of digital payment trails in corruption investigations in Kenya, where mobile money platforms are widely used across the economy. M-Pesa is Kenya’s dominant mobile money platform, launched in 2007 and operated by leading telecom Safaricom (NSE:SCOM).

The KRA has not commented publicly on the specific case. The authority has previously said it is cooperating with law enforcement agencies and strengthening internal controls to address corruption risks within the tax system.