Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi has raised alarm by giving his experience on his way to Garissa, after Police APs went ahead and demanded for for a Bribe.
He has urged the Cabinet Secretary for Interior Honourable Kipchumba Murkomen and his Principal Secretary Mr. Raymond Omollo to take action against police officers who ask for money from motorists.
“It’s an absolute disgrace that Kenya’s police officers treat every roadside stop as a personal ATM, shaking down innocent drivers for bribes like it’s their God-given right.”
“These uniformed extortionists are bleeding our nation dry, one shilling at a time, while the Inspector General sits idle time to clean house or watch the whole force crumble under corruption’s weight.” Said Ahmednasir Abdullahi
Mathias Teren, a communication expert also says that it is not wise for the likes of Kipchumba Murkomen calling out other leaders over corruption, and yet his own ministry alone is over corrupted with multiple cases.
” Our police force has become a syndicate of bribe-hungry bandits, robbing citizens under the guise of law enforcement. It’s high time we demand accountability and root out this shameless corruption!” Said Teren
The issue of police officers demanding bribes, as highlighted by SC Ahmednasir Abdullahi and echoed by Mathias Teren, is a deeply entrenched problem that undermines the rule of law and erodes public trust in Kenya’s institutions.
This systemic corruption, where officers exploit their authority to extort money from citizens often for minor or fabricated infractions reflects a broader failure of governance and accountability within the police force. It is not merely an inconvenience; it is a betrayal of the social contract between the state and its people.
The culture of bribery within the police force thrives due to several factors. First, low salaries and poor working conditions create fertile ground for officers to seek illicit income, though this is no excuse for their actions.
Second, a lack of robust oversight and accountability mechanisms allows corrupt practices to go unchecked. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) exists, but its impact remains limited, as cases of police misconduct rarely lead to meaningful consequences.
Third, societal normalization of “kitu kidogo” (something small) has desensitized the public to the gravity of these transactions, perpetuating a vicious cycle where both citizens and officers see bribery as a routine part of life.
By Kenyans