Migori, Kenya – Recent reports from Migori County, Kenya, highlight a disturbing trend linking the increase in fatal road accidents to corrupt practices among traffic police officers. Locals accuse these officers of contributing to road mishaps by allowing unsafe and overloaded passenger service vehicles (PSVs) to operate due to bribery.
According to Kenya News Agency, there is a direct correlation between police corruption and the recent spike in road fatalities. Onyango detailed an incident on the Migori-Kisii road where traffic police, after receiving a bribe, allowed an overloaded matatu (minibus) to continue its journey, which tragically ended in an accident that killed three people. He lamented the loss of lives due to the police’s disregard for the vehicle’s obvious unroadworthiness and overloading.
Helida Akeyo, another resident of Awendo town, criticized the habitual harassment of motorists by traffic police for bribes as low as Sh.100. This practice extends even to motorcycle taxi operators, known locally as bodabodas, who are often compelled to bribe officers to avoid penalties for both real and fabricated traffic offenses.
Economists estimate that corrupt officers along the Migori-Kisii route alone amass close to Sh. 1 million monthly through these illicit practices. This level of corruption in the traffic police unit is seen as contributing to the overall deterioration of integrity within the police force, painting them as one of the most corrupt entities in the country.
Matatu driver Pitalis Makori shared that although traffic police can be bothersome, small bribes usually suffice to avoid court proceedings and hefty fines for traffic violations. However, this short-term resolution is contributing to a larger problem of rampant corruption.
The National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA) is also under scrutiny, accused of exacerbating corruption on the highways, especially given the sharp rise in fatal road accidents in December. Pastor William Okoth expressed disbelief at the blatant corruption and its deadly consequences, suggesting that alternative measures should be considered to restore road safety.
Matatu operators are feeling the brunt of this corruption, claiming that traffic police are a significant hindrance to their business due to the constant demand for bribes. Peter Otieno, a matatu conductor, described instances where they are forced to bribe officers multiple times within a short distance.
Mr. Obungu Misoda, a teacher in Rongo, labeled the traffic police as a tightly run syndicate, emphasizing the urgent need for public condemnation and action to curb this malpractice.
Despite these accusations, senior police officials in Migori and across Kenya often downplay these claims as subjective and lacking in concrete research. Nonetheless, the police service has committed to addressing these issues, with Migori County police announcing drastic measures to combat road corruption during the holiday season.