Given the increasing corruption in Kenya, and mostly among police officers, one may wonder why police officers along Machakos-Katoloni road never inspect tuk tuks.
It would be wrong to conclude that these tuk tuks are road worthy vehicles or their drivers adhere strictly to traffic rules. In fact, some of the drivers do not possess valid driving licenses!
Asked why the police officer allowed him to pass even though he was overloading, one driver answered: “He has his share on my business.”
He went on to say that, each day all tuk tuk drivers give the police officers Sh200.
The money is given to a designated person whom he was not willing to disclose for security purpose. You will see them, neither dropping a note for the police to collect it nor inserting a note in their license as the matutu drivers do.
“Imagine over 70 tuk tuks along this route!” said the driver “These guys will continue buying salon cars.”
He was referring to the amount of money given to police officers and the fact that the police officers on that road possess private cars.
Next time when you pay Sh20 to a tuk tuk driver, bear in mind that he needs some other nine passengers to make a day for the police officers.