Police Inspector Jailed for Taking Bribe
An Anti-Corruption Court in Nairobi has sentenced a police inspector to two years in prison or a fine of Ksh550,000 after finding her guilty of soliciting and accepting a bribe.
The officer was accused of demanding Ksh10,000 to unlawfully secure the release of two suspects from custody.
The ruling was delivered on Thursday, March 13, by Principal Magistrate Isabellah Barasa, who found the officer guilty on two counts of bribery. The case was prosecuted under Sections 6 and 18 of the Bribery Act.
How the Bribery Case Unfolded
According to court records, the incident took place on April 25, 2021, at Kasarani Police Station in Nairobi. The police inspector, who was on duty at the time, reportedly demanded Ksh10,000 to facilitate the illegal release of two detainees—a man and a woman—who were being held at the station.
The matter came to light when the complainant reported the officer’s actions to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). Acting on the tip-off, EACC officers launched investigations that ultimately led to her arrest. During the court proceedings, the prosecution presented nine witnesses, whose testimonies strengthened the case against the accused officer.
Following her arrest, the suspect was processed at the Integrity Centre Police Station in Nairobi and later released on cash bail in July 2023. The prosecution maintained that the evidence against her was strong enough to warrant a conviction, leading to the sentencing.
Widespread Corruption in the Police Service
This case comes amid growing concerns about corruption within the National Police Service (NPS). On February 10, the EACC published an audit and research report exposing the rising levels of bribery among law enforcement officers.
The report highlighted a sharp increase in bribe amounts paid to both regular police officers and traffic officers between 2022 and 2023. The average bribe given to regular police officers rose by 39.1 percent, while traffic officers saw an 84.2 percent increase in the bribes they received.
According to the EACC findings, Kenyans were forced to pay an average of Ksh11,115 in bribes to access services from regular police officers.
Meanwhile, traffic officers demanded an average of Ksh7,000 for similar services. The cost of obtaining a police abstract also surged significantly, with the average bribe rising from Ksh2,000 in 2022 to Ksh20,000 in 2023.
The findings paint a troubling picture of widespread corruption within the police force, raising concerns about the integrity of law enforcement officers tasked with maintaining order and upholding justice.
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