Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) detectives have arrested four traffic police officers for allegedly extorting money from motorists on the Thika-Garissa Highway.
The four, Deborah Ngila (Deputy Base Commander), Rosemary Nyokabi, Robert Kabiru and Christine Chebon, were arrested after allegedly collecting Ksh12,000 in bribes in 30 minutes.
The officers from Matuu police station were arrested on Saturday morning and taken to the EACC Integrity Centre police station where they were processed.
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They were detained at Kilimani police station pending further action.
EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak has called upon the Police Commanders across the country to take urgent and decisive measures to end the extortion spree which he says is bringing great shame and embarrassment to the country.
The traffic department is rotten. When you speak to the junior officers they say they are required to remit money to their bosses. The problem is there. I'm told if you do not remit enough cash you are transferred to a less busier roadblock," Mbarak said.
According to EACC spokesperson Eric Ngumbi, the Thika-Garissa Road is estimated to have excess roadblocks and the bribes are collected on a 24-hour basis.
"The EACC arrests are part of the ongoing crackdown on notorious police officers extorting money from motorists along the Major highways in the country. The Commission conducted surveillance on several major roads and noted that despite the ongoing efforts to end graft in the country, what most traffic police officers are doing is no longer bribery but extortion," Ngumbi told K24 Digital.
