Punish corrupt police officers if traffic rules are to be effective

Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere is on record saying the force will deal harshly with drivers who flout traffic rules.

Hardly has he mentioned the action to take against traffic police officers who take bribes and allow drivers to contravene traffic rules.

In Eldoret, a traffic officer flags down an overloaded matatu. As the driver slows down, the conductor takes out Sh100 from his pocket and squeezes it in the officer’s hand before alighting.

The two seem to be exchanging greetings, but that is not the case. The officer then flags off the matatu to move on, despite having flouted traffic rules.

Corrupted version of motto

A passenger in the vehicle whispers, ufisadi kwa wote, which is a corrupted version of utumishi kwa wote, the motto of the police.

The Eldoret case is a perfect example of what happens with the traffic police countrywide.

Transparency International has ranked the Kenya Police the country’s most corrupt institution for the seventh time in a row.

The corruption in the force has been so immense that its effect has been detrimental to the lives of innocent passengers. Research has revealed that most accidents are caused by reckless driving, overloading and speeding.

A recent report by the Ministry of Transport indicated that 85 per cent of road accidents are caused by human error while 15 per cent are caused by poor roads and defective vehicles.

Another report by the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis recommended that the Transport ministry should put in place harsh penalties and a dedicated traffic court system.

During Madaraka Day celebrations, President Kibaki ordered the traffic police to enforce the Highway Code. But judging by increased number of accidents on the roads since then, it is evident that the President’s directive fell on deaf ears.

Tamper with speed governors

The “Michuki rules” of 2004, which saw the rate of road accidents drop by 74 per cent are long forgotten by public service vehicle drivers and police officers alike.

Most drivers interviewed admitted they had tampered with speed governors and pass police road blocks without much hurdle as they pay Sh100 to police officers per trip.

“I have been in matatu business since the initiation of Michuki rules. I can tell you that it is very difficult to find a matatu that operates with a speed governor right now,” said an Eldoret-based driver who sought anonymity.

It is not surprising to spot a matatu carrying passengers with expired insurance cover.

A spot check by the Nation in Eldoret Town showed that some matatus plying Maili Nne estate on Uganda Road, have no insurance cover but make their way comfortably past a police road block at Huruma estate.

“This means that in case of an accident, passengers aboard the matatu will not be entitled to compensation,” said resident Kevin Kipsang,
Eldoret base commandant Julius Mbaru, said he was not aware that some vehicles were operating without insurance cover.

“I will do a follow-up personally and ensure that those vehicles are impounded in the next few days,” said Mr Mbaru.

The Nation gave him the registration numbers of the particular vehicles.