The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested four traffic police officers accused of demanding and receiving bribes from motorists along the busy Nairobi–Nyeri–Embu Highway.
The Thursday, August 28 operation was carried out after the watchdog received complaints from road users, including matatu operators and truck drivers, who reported widespread extortion by officers manning the highway. Acting on the tip-offs, EACC detectives staged an undercover operation that led to the officers’ arrest.
Three of the suspects were based at Makutano Traffic Base, while the fourth was attached to Juja Traffic Base, both within Embu County. They were later transferred to the EACC Integrity Centre in Nairobi to record statements as investigations continue.
The anti-graft body confirmed that the officers would be charged with corruption-related offences once the inquiry is concluded.
The arrests come at a time when corruption within the police service remains a pressing concern. A recent EACC survey revealed that police officers are viewed as the most corrupt professionals in Kenya, accounting for 47 per cent of all reported cases of unethical conduct. County officials followed closely behind.
According to the survey, many Kenyans continue to face daily frustrations from bribery and extortion in public offices, with citizens feeling trapped in a cycle that undermines trust in institutions.
