Traffic officers to answer bribery charges
A police officer controls traffic on Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi on August 26, 2016 ahead of the Ticad conference at KICC. Six officers have been arrested on bribery claims. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- They are suspected to have received the money from drivers as an inducement for the officers not to charge them with various traffic offenses.
- The prosecution, led by assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Daniel Karori, alleged that the suspects used their positions to improperly benefit themselves.
Six police officers attached to the Traffic Department have been charged with receiving over Sh36,000 in bribes from various drivers in Murang’a and Nairobi counties last month.
They were arraigned before Senior Principal Magistrate Lawrence Mugambi at the Milimani Law Courts.
They are Inspector Seth Nalyanya Barasa, Corporal Caroline Chelangat and Police Constables Evanson Mureithi Munyaka, Abdi Khalif Madobe, Shadrack Ngatia Kioni and David Maina.
Mr Barasa and Mr Munyaka denied having Sh20,500 when they were arrested by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives at Mukeu on January 27.
Mr Madobe, a driver, and Mr Kioni were arrested with Sh14,300.
They are suspected to have received the money from drivers as an inducement for the officers not to charge them with various traffic offenses.
They are attached to the Makuyu Police Station.
Additionally, Ms Chelangat and Mr Maina were arrested on November 18 last year at the City Stadium roundabout with Sh900 and Sh1,600, respectively.
Ms Chelangat is attached to the Makongeni Police Station.
The prosecution, led by assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Daniel Karori, alleged that the suspects used their positions to improperly benefit themselves.
However, a matatu tout, Susan Muthoni, denied offering a bribe of Sh1,600 to avoid being arrested.
Defence lawyer Isaya Kandie protested the charging of the Ms Chelangat and Mr Maina two months after they questioned the DPP over their arrest.
Mr Barasa, and constables Madobe, Kioni and Munyaka were instructed to post cash bail of Sh60,000 each, while Ms Chelangat, Mr Maina and Ms Muthoni's cash bail was put at Sh30,000 each.
The trial is set for March 23.
