Motorists in Kangundo Town in Machakos County have raised concerns over allegations of frequent harassment and bribe demands from traffic police officers in the area.
The motorists, mainly taxi operators who use personal cars, allege that the traffic officers erect numerous roadblocks at any point within the town and start arresting those who do not part with cash.
According to the Kangundo Travellers Choice Sacco chairman Elijah Mbithi, the officers arrest drivers but they do not book them in the traffic offences book immediately. The drivers are allegedly released only after they give at least Sh 2,000 to Sh5,000.
He added that those who fail to agree with the bribe are then charged in a court of law with false claims of breaking the law.
Mbithi stated that the traffic officers always use the traffic commander’s vehicle to chase after those who don’t part with the cash and at times they are blocked when they are carrying passengers in the middle of the road and they are arrested.
The area traffic police base commander Davies Okisai has however refuted the claims saying that he is not aware of such a claim. He said that those who are accusing the officers of the same should have reported to him.
He added that if there is one or two who collect the money, he will engage with the traffic officers so they stop extorting money from them.
The motorists have vowed to stage a demonstration if nothing is done. They were speaking on Thursday at the Kangundo bus terminus.