Police have been accused of using
tough traffic rules introduced last year to demand huge bribes from motorists.
A Nation
survey in most parts of the country established that police were demanding up
to Sh15,000 from motorists accused of speeding or overlapping on grounds they
would pay more if arraigned in court.
According to the Traffic (Amendment)
Act 2012, motorists found guilty of speeding are liable to a fine of not less
than Sh20,000 or three months imprisonment or both.
Those found guilty of overlapping can
be fined at least Sh30,000 or three months imprisonment or both.
But police chiefs have denied the
bribery claims.
Baringo Traffic Base Commander Daniel
Ololngojine said his office was yet to receive any complaints of bribery.
“We are on the lookout for defective
vehicles and motorists who flout traffic rules. Those found guilty will have
their vehicles impounded and charged in court,” said the traffic boss.
Eldoret West police boss Erastus
Muthamia exonerated his officers from claims that they solicit bribes to
release impounded vehicles, and concerns that they only mount crackdowns after
a series of accidents.
He warned the traffic offenders against
bribing the law enforcers saying if caught, both would be arrested.
Siaya police boss Stephen Cheteka said
he has never received any reports of his officers demanding bribes from
motorists but admitted that it happens.
“The problem is the society, because
these things happen but are not reported to us. It is very difficult to take
action against an officer when we don’t have evidence against them,” he said.
Mr Cheteka however added that the
force conducts seminars for officers on integrity and the repercussions of
taking bribes.
But the Nation established that most of the notorious
routes include the Nairobi-Narok, Nairobi-Nakuru, Kisumu-Busia roads, among
others.
Nyeri Matatu Owners Association
chairman Patrick Mugwara said police officers manning roadblocks ask for higher
bribes if the offences are serious.
“Nothing has changed since the
enactment of the law except that the police are asking for higher bribes,” said
Mr Mugwara.
Some motorists accused traffic police
officers of abusing the new rules to punish them unfairly.
“Police insisted that I was speeding
at 109 km/h yet I was doing 90 km/h on the Nairobi-Narok road,” said Mr Philip
Githui, a driver who was arrested on the road last week.
“A policewoman asked me for Sh5,000
but I told her that I would not give out any money...I tried to have them
accept a cash bail so that I could proceed with my journey but they insisted on
taking us to court immediately.”
To intimidate arrested motorists, the
officers deny them cash bail and instead force them to the cells before
dragging them to court. Yet others buy their way out when their files
containing charge sheets are plucked by rogue officers who then demand money
from them.
Matatu Welfare Association chairman
Dickson Mbugua has asked President Kenyatta to set up a taskforce to look into
“corruption in the traffic police department”.
Mr Mbugua on Sunday warned they would
withdraw their services in three days to protest the ongoing crackdown on
unroadworthy public service vehicles.
He said the operation launched by the
traffic police was not in good faith, as it had targeted even vehicles in good
condition.
On Sunday, the chairman gave the
Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo three days to stop the crackdown and
call for a meeting with them.
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