The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has apprehended three traffic police officers over allegations of demanding bribes from motorists.
According to the commission, the arrests followed investigations launched after receiving numerous complaints from motorists, including operators of public service vehicles and heavy commercial trucks, over alleged rampant extortion at the roadblock.
The complaints pointed to officers routinely demanding money from motorists travelling through the area, prompting the commission to mount a targeted surveillance operation.
The commission disclosed that the operation established that the officers were allegedly soliciting and receiving bribes from motorists entering or leaving the border town without carrying out vehicle inspections or enforcing traffic regulations.
Following the operation, the three officers were arrested and taken to the EACC’s Western Regional Office in Bungoma for processing as investigations continue.
“The arrests follow an investigation by the EACC after receiving numerous complaints from members of the public and motorists operating public service vehicles and heavy commercial vehicles regarding rampant extortion by the officers at the roadblock,” the commission stated.
EACC said that the operation forms part of its ongoing nationwide crackdown on bribery at public service delivery points, saying it has intensified intelligence gathering and surveillance in sectors considered vulnerable to corruption.
