Four traffic police officials have been detained by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission for purportedly extorting money from drivers on Nairobi’s Outer Road.
The Commission said on Wednesday that the officers were caught in the act at Quarry Stage.
The four traffic cops collected KES 15,820 in total in less than two hours at the exact moment of the arrest, according to EACC.
The majority of the money, according to reports, was in denominations of 50, 100, and 200.
Sergeant Abraham Kiptoo of the Embakasi Police Station, PC. Charo Katana of the Buruburu Police Station, Cpl. Sarah Karimi of the Buruburu Police Station, and Sgt. Burton Mathenge of the Buruburu Police Station are among the policemen who have been detained.
“EACC carried out this operation complying with many allegations from motorists and members of the public who suspected that, of late, they have constantly experienced traffic police officers publicly accumulating bribes from private and public service vehicles either individually or by means of agents executed to that objective,” according to the Commission.
The anti-graft organisation claims that some drivers left notes at certain sections of the car, including the driver’s door handle, while others just dropped them for cops to pick up off the ground.
Some others placed the cash in their driver’s licences, which they then gave to the law enforcement cops.
The complex bribery operation on Outering Road, according to the complainants, “has resulted in constant traffic snarl-ups.”
EACC cops saw the cops carrying out the purported bribery while it was being investigated.
The suspects were taken to the EACC Integrity Centre Police Station, where they were detained to assist with the investigation after being taken into custody.
They were then freed on police bail of KES10,000 apiece until the final details of their inquiries were resolved, including getting the Director of Public Prosecutions’ approval before being recommended for arraignment before the Anti-Corruption Court.
After entering a plea, the officers will be placed on administrative leave until the investigations are concluded as required by law in the event that the DPP approves of their prosecution.