The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has intensified its festive season operations against bribery, arresting two traffic police officers in Murang’a and Mtwapa for allegedly soliciting and receiving illicit payments from motorists along major highways.
In Murang’a town, EACC operatives arrested Police Constable Kelvin Mwangi of the Murang’a Traffic Base following a surveillance operation along the busy Kenol–Murang’a Road.
The operation by the anti-graft agency on Tuesday was prompted by multiple complaints from motorists about rampant bribery at traffic stops.
During the arrest, officers recovered KSh 6,450 in small denominations inluding Sh 50, Sh100 reportedly collected within a span of two hours.
Mwangi was taken to the EACC Central Regional Offices for processing and later booked at Nyeri Police Station, where he was released on cash bail as investigations continue.
His colleague, PC Mathew Osike, managed to escape but remains under investigation.
The operation also disrupted another suspected bribery point along the Kerugoya–Kutus Road near Bekam, where traffic officers reportedly fled into nearby bushes, abandoning official police attire.
Meanwhile, on the Coast, EACC officers arrested Police Corporal Haroun Mazera Chamutu of the Mtwapa Traffic Base for allegedly soliciting bribes along the Mombasa–Malindi Highway.
Investigators recovered Sh13,750 in various denominations from the suspect.
Chamutu was taken to the EACC Upper Coast Regional Office in Malindi for statement recording and further processing.
These arrests are part of a broader nationwide crackdown on corruption in essential public services, with a focus on traffic policing during the festive season.
The EACC says it is scaling up intelligence gathering and surveillance to ensure integrity, accountability, and professionalism among public officers.
“We will not tolerate corruption, especially in sectors that directly interact with the public. Members of the public are encouraged to report any corrupt practices through our reporting channels,” the Commission said in a statement on X
The EACC has vowed continued operations across the country, warning that traffic officers and other public servants involved in bribery will face swift legal action.
