Anti-graft war backlash as arrest of traffic officer sparks row
The arrest of traffic police officers over alleged bribery has triggered a sharp public dispute between the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Kenya Police Traffic Department, exposing deep tensions in the country’s anti-graft war.
The EACC has rejected claims that it arrests traffic officers without prosecuting them, insisting it remains committed to fighting corruption within the National Police Service. Speaking to The Informer Media Group, EACC Head of Corporate Communication Stephen Karuga dismissed assertions by Traffic Commandant Fredrick Ochieng’ that more than 40 traffic officers arrested over the past year have not been charged.
Karuga said EACC records, including quarterly and annual reports, show numerous arrests, prosecutions and convictions of police officers involved in bribery, particularly along major highways.
The dispute follows renewed anti-graft operations targeting traffic officers accused of soliciting bribes from motorists.
On Monday, January 12, 2025, three officers from Kyumbi Traffic Police Base in Machakos County were arrested over allegations of bribery at a roadblock along the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway.
Earlier, on December 30, 2025, EACC arrested two officers in Murang’a and Mtwapa towns in separate operations.
In Murang’a, Police Constable Kelvin Mwangi was arrested after surveillance along the Kenol–Murang’a Road, following public complaints of rampant bribery. Officers recovered Sh6,450 from him, allegedly collected within two hours.
His colleague escaped arrest. In Mtwapa, Police Corporal Haroun Mazera Chamutu was arrested along the Mombasa–Malindi Highway, with Sh13,750 recovered during the operation. EACC said the arrests were part of a nationwide crackdown on corruption on major roads, especially during the festive season.
However, the Traffic Commandant has raised serious concerns about how EACC conducts arrests.
In a letter to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Ochieng’ accused EACC officers of violating constitutional rights and criminal procedure. He claimed over 40 traffic officers arrested since December 2024 have been left on prolonged cash bail, some for more than a year, without being arraigned in court.
Ochieng’ alleged officers were arrested in humiliating circumstances, detained for hours at EACC offices, and forced to pay cash bail contrary to the law.
He further claimed that cash bail has been illegally extended beyond the legal 30-day limit, sometimes exceeding one year, without charges being filed or bail refunded. The letter listed cases across several counties, including Busia, Nairobi, Kiambu, Nakuru, Kilifi and Murang’a.
Most troubling, the commandant alleged that some EACC officers solicited bribes from suspects during prolonged bail periods, promising discharge in exchange for payments — calling it “corruption within a corruption.”
The Traffic Department warned that the practice has paralysed police administration, as officers on prolonged bail cannot be disciplined or transferred, yet continue serving in the same stations. The standoff unfolds amid long-standing public anger over traffic police corruption, which safety experts say contributes to road accidents by allowing unroadworthy vehicles to remain on the roads.
