Major General Ali is said to have given the senior officers a tongue lashing and ordered them to stamp out bribery. The police chief is also said to have ordered the provincial commanders to ensure a reduction in traffic accidents and threatened to sack officers sleeping on the job.
However, most cases involving officers are not documented in official records. Last year, the police chief released statistics showing that only 15 officers were indicted for receiving or soliciting bribes.
However, about 35 per cent of those arrested by Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission officials on bribery allegations are police officers.
Late last year, KACC detectives unearthed a syndicate in which corrupt officers receive bribes via mobile phone-based technology, like M-Pesa and Sokotele.
Matatu Owners Association chairman Simon Kimutai said bribery has been legalised, thanks to traffic police officers. Research has shown that the force is the most corrupt institution in Kenya, but no action is taken, he said.
Mr Kimutai suggested that instant ticketing be introduced by the Kenya Revenue Authority for traffic offences as most operators prefer parting with cash rather than face the cumbersome court process. I'm sure this would reduce bribery cases by 50 per cent, he said. – Daily Nation