Police use mobile phone accounts to hide bribes

Traffic police officers receiving bribes have changed tack to escape renewed efforts to fight corruption.

The officers are now using money transfer services offered by mobile phone companies to conceal the bribes they receive on the highway.

The money is deposited in their accounts in a bid to avoid being found with bundles of notes in their pockets when they are arrested by Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission officers.

“My colleagues have in the past been found in very embarrassing and incriminating situations, either concealing the cash under stones near the check points or in their pockets.

“Currently, one of us is assigned the duty of loading the collected cash in his mobile phone account every time the collection surpasses Sh1,000,” said an officer based in South Nyanza who asked not to be named due to sensitivity of the matter.

The cash is then withdrawn in the evening after work and divided equally among the officers at the road block.

Thus, offenders like owners of unroadworthy vehicles are allowed to continue operating the Kenyan roads.

This has been blamed for increased road accidents that have killed many Kenyans.