Earlier this week, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) arrested four traffic police officers accused of extorting money from motorists under the guise of enforcing traffic laws. The arrested officers are:
- Cpl Rachael Aiyabei (No. 77429)
- PC John Oluoch (No. 92235)
- Cpl Cynthia Kemoi (No. 73151)
- PC Philip Sitienei (No. 79604)
Cpl Aiyabei and PC Oluoch were apprehended along the Sotik-Kericho road, while Cpl Kemoi and PC Sitienei were arrested on the Kericho-Nakuru Road near Kaisugu Tea Factory.
The arrests followed several days of observation by the EACC, which documented the officers’ alleged involvement in collecting bribes without any enforcement of traffic regulations. After being detained on Tuesday, the suspects were taken to the EACC South Rift Regional Offices in Nakuru for processing and were later released on bail pending further investigation.
The EACC has reiterated that bribery, often dismissed as petty corruption, poses severe risks by compromising road safety, sometimes leading to fatal accidents. It noted that many road accidents in Kenya can be attributed to non-compliance with safety regulations due to the payment of bribes.
The Commission urges the public to report any forms of corruption through the toll-free line 1551 or via email at report@integrity.go.ke.