Traffic boss unveils new anti-graft drive

Police officers have been ordered to inspect vehicles in full glare of the public in a new campaign targeting those who demand bribes by the roadside.

They will also be closely watched for “unusual money transactions” through their mobile phones in a new campaign to fight corruption in the force announced on Sunday by Traffic boss Benson Kibui.

“After stopping a matatu, corrupt officers have formed a habit of signalling a driver to walk a distance away from the vehicle so that they can inspect their licences. I’ve directed that the officers should walk to the spot where the vehicle stops and do all the inspection as the passengers watch,” said the newly appointed traffic boss.

In doing so, he hopes the public will report cases where money changes hands by calling special police hot-lines and informing senior officers.

The new orders would also include regular monitoring of mobile phone money transfer systems to catch officers who receive bribes through the devices.

Asked how the department would distinguish between genuine transactions and those linked to corruption, Mr Kibui said:

“Considering we are determined to curtail all avenues these officers have adopted, it’s going to be easy and we have the ability. It’s just like we do with all other criminals.”

The traffic unit has perennially been ranked as one of the most corrupt government departments.

The commandant issued the orders at a meeting with traffic officers at the CID training school in South C, Nairobi on Sunday.

Mr Kibui, who was once President Kibaki’s chief bodyguard, was appointed the new traffic boss last month.