EACC: Where Police Officers Hid Bribes Collected From Motorists Over Christmas

A video clip shared by the anti-corruption body on Friday, January 3 showed EACC detectives infiltrating one of the hiding spots at Wanguru Police Station

Viral Tea Ke Writer Viral Tea Ke Writer
Jan 3, 2025 - 17:45 Updated: Jan 3, 2025 - 17:47
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EACC: Where Police Officers Hid Bribes Collected From Motorists Over Christmas
Traffic police attached to Kisumu Central Police Station stops an oncoming vehicle during a crackdown along Nairobi Road on January 28, 2020. /STANDARD DIGITAL

A day after nine traffic police officers from the National Police Service (NPS) were arrested for abetting corruption by collecting bribes from motorists during the festive season, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) revealed details of a hideout a section of the officers used to stash their loot.

A video clip shared by the anti-corruption body on Friday, January 3 showed EACC detectives infiltrating one of the hiding spots at Wanguru Police Station and uncovering money hidden in a bush next to a building at the premises.

The money, mostly Ksh50 and Ksh100 notes was covered with a rock under some weeds.

"One of the “facilities” in the Gathoge area, along the Makutano-Embu Highway, where traffic police officers from Wanguru Police Station in Embu had started storing bribes collected from motorists on 26 December 2024, before EACC arrived," EACC captioned the video.

On Thursday, January 2, EACC revealed that it arrested a total the nine officers over alleged extortion of motorists during the Christmas period. The nine cops were arrested in Nakuru, Kajiado, and Kisii counties following traps set by the agency.

EACC Spokesperson Eric Ngumbi confirmed the arrests saying the nine officers were arrested between December 25 and 31, 2024 and were processed.

He said that two of the officers namely; PC Muendi Okech and CPL James Gitonga were nabbed along Nairobi-Namanga Road in Kajiado County while two others Cpl Mustafa Babuye and PC Dae Ronald Wakachanga were arrested in Kisii, along Kisii-Rongo Road on Christmas Day.

The remaining five officers, including Sgt Susan Potishoi, Cpl Joshua Kipkurui, PC Duncan Bonn, PC Vincent Otieno, and PC Ruth Ngugi, were at Salgaa in Nakuru, along the Nairobi-Nakuru-Eldoret Highway, on December 30.

Officers apprehended in Kisii were detained at Nyamarambe Police Traffic Base, and those in Nakuru were held at Salgaa. Those in Kajiado and Embu were processed at Kajiado and Wanguru Police Stations but were later released on cash bail pending the finalization of the investigation and further action. 

During operations, EACC noted that motorists have been offering bribes to police officers to escape sanctions for traffic violations such as ignoring speed limits, driving without a valid license, and overloading.

The anti-graft body implored security personnel and all road users to obey traffic laws to curb road accidents during the festive season.

"The Commission urges all stakeholders, including motorists, traffic officers, and the public, to prioritize road safety by adhering to traffic laws. Corruption on the roads compromises traffic law enforcement as it encourages motorists to get away with serious violations such as overspeeding, overloading and driving uninsured or unroadworthy vehicles thus posing serious risks to public safety," EACC stated in part.

EACC has been on the radar of traffic police officers following public outcries of extortion. Notable among them was when it arrested four police officers attached to the National Police Service on August 29, who were found collecting bribes along the busy Kericho-Sotik Road after the commission laid a trap.

The main suspects were apprehended after they were lured into a trap while actively collecting bribes from motorists.

EACC offices at Integrity Centre in Nairobi. /FILE

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