Traffic Department Implements Undercover Operations Against Bribery on Kenya’s Highways

Makuyu, Kenya – In a significant move to curb corruption among traffic police, the Traffic Department has deployed plainclothes officers along major highways. These officers are tasked with identifying and apprehending police officers who solicit bribes from motorists.

According to Kenya News Agency, speaking during a multi-agency crackdown on unroadworthy vehicles on the Thika-Nyeri highway, the operation targets both corrupt officers and drivers who offer bribes. Koki emphasized that any individual caught in the act will be subjected to legal consequences. “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 stated.

In addition to the undercover operations, Koki mentioned that the department is initiating programs such as talks and civic education for police officers to eradicate this corrupt practice. Acknowledging the deep-rooted nature of the problem, she urged officers to execute their duties diligently and arrest law violators without resorting to bribery.

Echoing Koki’s sentiments, National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) Director Andrew Kiplagat noted a decrease in road-related deaths, attributing this improvement to ongoing crackdowns on major highways. Kiplagat confirmed that these operations would continue until there is a significant restoration of order and compliance on the roads.

During the crackdown, several matatu operators were apprehended for carrying excess passengers. One of the operators, Njiiri Mwangi, defended their actions by highlighting the economic challenges faced by the industry, especially with the steep rise in fuel prices. “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 argued.

The crackdown and the new measures by the Traffic Department mark a significant step towards addressing the long-standing issue of corruption on Kenya’s roads.