Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i. [Photo/capitalfm.co.ke]
Business came to a standstill at Kipkelion trading center, Kericho County after irate bodaboda operators took to the streets to protest alleged police harassment.
The irate operators claimed that police officers were using several roadblocks to solicit hefty bribes from them over "petty offenses".
They stormed Kipkelion police station demanding an audience with the area OCS over the matter.
The group which operates along various routes in the area were accompanied by three Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) during the protests.
“The officers led by Officer Commanding Station have formed a kangaroo court where they demand at least Sh2, 000 for every confiscated motorcycle,” said Sammy Bett, the Kipkelion West constituency boda-boda association chairman.
The operators said they will withdraw their services if action is not taken against the police officers.
They asked Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i to intervene and sack the OSC over corruption.
It took the intervention of Kipkelion Deputy County Commissioner Sébastian Okiring to calm down the angry boda-boda riders, who are demanding the removal of the several roadblocks in the area.
"We will bring to book anybody promoting corruption, be it a police officer of the person giving out the bribe," said the commissioner.