5 Police Officers Arrested for Taking Bribes from Motorists
Detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) arrested five police officers on Thursday after they were caught red-handed soliciting bribes from motorists along the Kakamega-Bungoma Road in Mumias, Kakamega County.
According to EACC, the officers had been demanding money from drivers under the pretense of enforcing traffic laws without actually inspecting the vehicles.
Their arrest followed numerous complaints from motorists who accused them of extortion.
The operation turned dramatic when one of the officers, upon realizing that EACC detectives were after him, attempted to flee on a motorcycle.
However, local boda boda riders who had gathered at the scene refused to help him escape, cutting his getaway attempt short.
The arrests took place at Ekero, where the five officers, who included a senior sergeant, a corporal, and constables, were taken into custody.
Following their arrest, the officers were taken to the EACC Western Regional Office in Bungoma for processing before being transferred to Bungoma Police Station.
Crackdown on Corrupt Traffic Officers
EACC has intensified its crackdown on corrupt traffic police officers accused of extorting money from motorists on Kenyan roads.
In February, another group of five police officers was arrested in Nairobi’s central business district (CBD) near Moi Avenue Primary and Junior School while collecting bribes from drivers. The arrest attracted a large crowd of onlookers, who condemned the officers’ actions.
“There will be no more bribes of Ksh100, Ksh50, Ksh200, or even Ksh30 for you anymore,” a boda boda rider shouted at the scene.
Additionally, in January, EACC arrested nine police officers accused of extorting motorists during the Christmas season. The officers were apprehended in Nakuru, Kajiado, and Kisii counties after EACC set up traps to catch them in the act.
The anti-corruption agency has vowed to continue cracking down on rogue officers who exploit motorists for bribes instead of enforcing the law fairly.
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