The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested two traffic police officers in Murang’a and Mtwapa towns for allegedly soliciting and receiving bribes from motorists along major highways, as several other officers fled during coordinated operations.
In Murang’a County, detectives arrested Police Constable Kelvin Mwangi, attached to the Murang’a Traffic Base, following a targeted surveillance operation along the busy Kenol–Murang’a Road.
According to EACC, the operation was initiated after the commission received multiple complaints from members of the public alleging rampant bribery by traffic officers operating along the route. After the arrest, investigators conducted a search on the suspect and recovered Ksh.6,450, comprising denominations of Ksh.50, Ksh.100 and Ksh.200, which EACC believes was collected from motorists within a span of just two hours.
EACC further revealed that the officer’s colleague, PC Mathew Osike, managed to escape arrest during the operation.
Following his arrest, PC Mwangi was escorted to the EACC Central Regional Offices for processing before being booked at Nyeri Police Station, where he was later released on cash bail pending the conclusion of investigations.
During the same operation, EACC officers also disrupted another suspected bribery collection point along the Kerugoya–Kutus Road near the Bekam area. Traffic officers stationed at the location reportedly fled into nearby bushes, abandoning their official police uniforms as they escaped.
In a separate but related incident, EACC on Tuesday arrested another traffic police officer in Mtwapa town, Kilifi County, over similar bribery allegations.
The officer, identified as Mazera Haron, was apprehended after several days of covert surveillance along the Mtwapa–Malindi Road. Upon his arrest, investigators recovered Ksh.13,750, all in Ksh.100 denomination notes, which EACC believes were proceeds of corruption.
The commission said investigations into the incidents are ongoing and warned that officers found engaging in corrupt practices will face the full force of the law.
