- The officers, who include a Deputy Base Commander and three Police Constables, are currently in custody at Kilimani Police Station pending further action.
- The arrest came days after Police Commanders across the country held a meeting organised by the Head of Public Service.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested four traffic officers while allegedly collecting bribes at a roadblock along the Thika - Garissa Highway.
The Commission carried out an operation that led to the arrest of the four near Matuu town.
The officers, who include a Deputy Base Commander and three Police Constables, are currently in custody at Kilimani Police Station pending further action.
The arrest came days after Police Commanders across the country held a meeting organised by the Head of Public Service.
During the meeting, it was agreed that the Police Command would take charge and responsibility for ending the menace of traffic corruption on Kenyan roads.
Following this, the anti-corruption commission conducted a spot-check during the week which showed that traffic corruption was still ongoing on the highways.
"The culture of traffic police demanding and collecting bribes from motorists is still rampant," EACC said.
The Commission said bribes are collected on a 24-hour basis at the roadblocks along the Thika - Garissa Road.
The Commission conducted surveillance on several other major roads and noted that despite the ongoing efforts to end graft in the country, what most traffic police officers are doing is no longer bribery but extortion.
EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak has called upon Police Commanders across the country to take urgent and decisive measures to end the extortion spree.
He said the vice is bringing great shame and embarrassment to the country, and not only causing harm to citizens but also to the country’s international image.
Meanwhile in Kisumu, a police inspector was also arrested for allegedly demanding Sh500,000 from a trader.
The October 2 arrest was conducted through the EACC Kisumu Regional office.
The inspector was under investigation for an allegation of demanding the bribe, in order to withdraw fabricated charges against a complainant, his wife and the daughter.
The complainant is a transporter, whose goods were destined for Southern Sudan, and was detained by the said Inspector, on allegation of being stolen.
The officer demanded a bribe of Sh500,000 but after negotiation, he received Sh200,000.
EACC officers arrested him immediately after he received the bribe, which took place at Total Petrol Station, Luanda, Vihiga County.
The officer was released on police bail and will face bribery charges once investigations are concluded.