The Traffic Department has planted plain clothes officers on major highways to nab police officers collecting bribes from motorists.
Traffic Police Commissioner Serah Koki said the officers have been deployed at several hotspots along all the highways and have been instructed to nab both the officers and drivers giving bribes.
During a multi-agency crackdown on unroadworthy vehicles along Thika-Nyeri highway in Makuyu today, Koki said those nabbed will face the law.
“The culture of traffic police obtaining bribes on the roads has tainted the service and should come to an end. We have laid a strategy and any officer caught taking a bribe will face the law. We shall be quite strict on this one,” Koki said.
She added that they are working on programmes including organizing talks and civic education with police officers to end the vice.
“We have tried several strategies to end this vice but it seems the culture is deep rooted. However, this time, if you get nabbed, you will serve as an example to others. Execute your work diligently and arrest drivers violating the law without asking for bribes,” she said.
Her sentiments were echoed by National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) Director Andrew Kiplagat who said road related deaths have gone down due to the ongoing crackdowns along the major highways.
He added that the crackdown will continue until sanity is brought back to the roads.
Matatu operators who were nabbed due to carrying excess passengers pleaded with the law enforcers to bear with them at this time when the business environment is difficult.
Njiiri Mwangi, one of those nabbed defended matatu operators saying they didn’t hike fares even when fuel prices went up by over 100 percent saying the government ought to be considerate.
“How can we not carry excess passengers yet fuel cost has hit the ceiling. Instead of hiking fares, we chose to carry an excess of two or more passengers to get something. If not so, we shall operate at a loss or withdraw our vehicles from the roads,” Mwangi said.
By Muoki Charles
