A shocking incident of corruption and abuse of power by four traffic police officers in Kenya has sparked outrage and disbelief among netizens. The officers were arrested by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Saturday, October 7, 2023, after they were caught red-handed collecting bribes from motorists along the Thika-Garissa highway.
According to the EACC, the officers had been under surveillance for nearly two weeks, following complaints from the public about their illegal activities. The EACC officers swooped in on the roadblock and recovered Ksh.12,000 in cash from the officers, which they had collected within a few hours. The money was in tens of folded notes, which clearly showed the extent of the officers’ greed and disregard for the law.
“Hiyo shida iko, tusikizane tu, hiyo shida ya hongo iko haitakuwa vizuri mdogo anachukua anapelekea corporal, base commander, inaenda kwa OCPD, it is being said hata IG anapelekewa,” the police boss said.
The post went viral on social media, with many netizens expressing their anger and frustration at the rampant corruption in the police force. Some also wondered how the officers could survive on such meagre amounts, while others sarcastically praised them for their “hard work”. Here are some of the reactions from netizens:
- “This is so sad. How can they risk their lives and careers for such peanuts? They should be ashamed of themselves.” – @MwendeNjeri
- “Wow! Ksh.12,000 in a few hours? That’s more than what some people earn in a month. These guys are really working hard. Kudos!” – @KamauWanjohi
- “This is why we have so many accidents on our roads. These officers are more interested in collecting bribes than enforcing traffic rules. They should be fired and prosecuted.” – @NjokiWangari
- “This is just a drop in the ocean. There are many more corrupt officers out there who are making millions from bribes. The EACC should do more to expose and arrest them.” – @OmondiOdhiambo