Festive Season Crackdown: 2 Traffic Officers Arrested as EACC Recovers Ksh20K in Bribes

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has intensified its fight against corruption on Kenya’s roads, arresting traffic police officers accused of soliciting and taking bribes from motorists.

On Monday and Tuesday, EACC detectives carried out coordinated operations along major highways in Murang’a County and Mtwapa in Kilifi County, acting on multiple complaints from the public about widespread bribery by traffic officers during the festive season.

In Murang’a town, a traffic officer was arrested during a targeted surveillance operation along the Kenol–Murang’a Road. Authorities recovered Ksh 6,450 in small-denomination notes from the suspect, believed to have been collected over a short period. The officer, attached to a local traffic base, was processed at the EACC Central Regional Offices and later released on cash bail at Nyeri Police Station pending further investigations.

During the same patrols, EACC officers disrupted another suspected bribery collection point near Bekam along the Kerugoya–Kutus Road. Officers manning the site reportedly fled into nearby bushes, leaving behind their police uniforms and equipment.

At the coast, a separate EACC team arrested a traffic officer in Mtwapa along the Mombasa–Malindi Highway. Investigators recovered Ksh 13,750 from the suspect, who was taken to the EACC Upper Coast Regional Offices in Malindi for questioning and processing.

Speaking on the crackdown, EACC said, “The operation was launched after the Commission received multiple complaints from members of the public regarding rampant bribery by traffic officers. We are committed to scaling up surveillance and enforcement in sectors prone to corruption to promote integrity, accountability, and professionalism in public service.”

Similar anti-corruption operations have taken place across the country. Earlier this week, three traffic officers were arrested along the Kisumu–Kisii Highway at Sondu after being found allegedly soliciting bribes from motorists without conducting proper traffic checks.

Cash suspected to be proceeds of corruption was recovered, and the officers were processed at the commission’s regional offices before being booked at Kisumu Railways and Ports Police Station.

“We urge members of the public to continue reporting corruption through official EACC channels. Together, we can curb abuse of office and uphold professionalism in public service.”