The Plight of Corrupt Traffic Officers
In a bid to tackle corruption within the police department, Parliament is considering a motion to remove pockets from traffic officers’ uniforms.
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For many years, East African countries have relied on each other for inter-block businesses. Whether by road, air, or water transport, men and women are diligently transporting goods daily between these nations. Unfortunately, this constant movement has turned into a fertile ground for corrupt practices among traffic officers, stretching from the Malaba border to Mombasa and vice versa.
Erick Mutai, a trailer driver, shared his experience with one of the Kenyan radio station, shedding light on the coercion they face from police officers who are supposed to ensure road safety. “My route spans from Mombasa to Kampala, Uganda, and Juba, South Sudan. In Kenya, traffic officers frequently demand bribes compared to Uganda, where electronic machines are used to issue fines for offenses such as overloading or mechanical issues,” Mutai explained. “In Kenya, drivers are often forced to pay bribes to officers stationed along the route, regardless of whether they have committed an offense or not. This happens at over 20 traffic stops along my route.”
Mutai highlighted the financial burden placed on transit owners, who already bear the expenses of regular vehicle maintenance. “Transit owners struggle to maintain their vehicles, but traffic police show little concern for the vehicle’s condition; all they seek is money,” he lamented. “Those with well-maintained vehicles are extorted amounts ranging from Ksh 50 to Ksh 100, while those with mechanical issues are coerced into paying between Ksh 2000 to Ksh 5000 on the spot. Failure to comply results in fabricated charges.”
He further described how officers stationed at Makindu and Mtito Andei often operate at the middle of the road, even during adverse weather conditions, solely to solicit bribes from motorists. Mutai, speaking on behalf of fellow drivers, expressed their silent suffering and questioned whether there is any oversight of Kenya’s traffic officers. These concerns are compounded by recent arrests of traffic police officers in Nairobi for soliciting bribes, as reported by the DCI.
Mutai urged police leadership to take decisive action against corrupt practices that endanger motorists and undermine public trust. Concurrently, in a bid to tackle corruption within the police department, Parliament is considering a motion to remove pockets from traffic officers’ uniforms. This bill is expected to be discussed soon, as Parliament resumes its sittings following a lengthy holiday recess.
This year alone the country has lost over 563 people in Road accident according to NTSA as every week they record 84 news deaths cases even claiming a life of world Marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum as new cases are reported daily. No action has been taken or any people taken to court over this incidents
Report by Jesse Abisheck
Email: abijessyshi@gmail.com
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