Detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), on Thursday, apprehended five police officers who were caught soliciting bribes from motorists plying the Kakamega-Bungoma Road in Mumias, Kakamega County.
According to EACC, the officers were nabbed following numerous complaints of extorting money from motorists under the guise of traffic law enforcement without conducting any checks on the vehicles.
During the apprehension, there was a dramatic scene when one of the officers, upon realising that the detectives were on their hot pursuit, attempted to stage an escape using a motorcycle.
However, the motorcyclists who had gathered at the scene in support of the EACC operation refused to transport him, ending his escape prematurely.
The nabbing took place at Ekero along the Kakamega-Bungoma Road, where the five officers of the ranks of senior seargent, corporal, and constables were apprehended.
The accused were taken to the EACC Western Regional Office in Bungoma, where they were processed before being transferred to Bungoma Police Station.
EACC has been on the radar of traffic police officers who have been targeting motorists on various roads in Kenya.
In February, five police officers were apprehended near Moi Avenue Primary and Junior School in Nairobi’s central business district (CBD) while collecting bribes from motorists.
There was drama during the nabbing after members of the public thronged the area while castigating the officers for collecting bribes from motorists using the road.
”No more bribes for you in the form of Ksh100, Ksh50, Ksh200, and Ksh30 will be no more for you,” one of the bodaboda riders at the scene of the drama shouted.
In January, EACC confirmed the apprehension of a total nine officers over alleged extortion of motorists during the Christmas period.
According to EACC, the nine police officers were apprehended in Nakuru, Kajiado, and Kisii counties following traps set by the agency.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE