A section of traffic police officers are using touts to collect bribes from motorists
in different parts of the country to avoid detection
from authorities.
The national police service commission revealed this on Monday during the ongoing vetting for traffic cops in Mombasa which started Tuesday, May 24 2016.
Chairman Johnstone Kavuludi said the matter has been forwarded to inspector general of police for further investigation and prosecution.
“We have reports that officers operating in traffic have devised new methods of collecting money from the public including using touts," he said.
"The touts are positioned strategically at bus stages and places where vehicles are serviced. And so, the money which they consider a fee for one to ply a certain route is given to certain touts,” Kavuludi said.
The police commission boss further disclosed that some officers are also colluding with breakdown service companies to extort money from Kenyans.
“The Inspector general has already taken very serious steps to ensure that this does not continue because a mutation of their methods is a danger to the public," Kavuludi said.
"It is a danger in the sense that we will be seeing vehicles which are not roadworthy ply our roads therefore endanger the lives of users,” he said.
Vetting of 238 traffic officers, who have been in the department since 2012, kicked off at the Kenya School of Government in Mombasa for the Coast based officers.
Overall, the exercise targets 598 officers in Coast, Nyanza and Western regions.
Kenya has about 2, 500 traffic officers.
The officers targeted are in the ranks of constables and inspectors.
The ten-day probe is focusing on officers' professionalism, entry qualifications, respect of human rights, discipline and financial aspects.
Meanwhile, Kavuludi revealed that at least 300 traffic police officers risk losing their jobs for failing to cooperate during the vetting process.
He said the officers have either failed to appear before the board or refused to submit the necessary documents required for the exercise.
“Tthe commission will have no option but remove them because they have refused or failed to participate in the vetting as required by law,” Kavuludi said.
He said the officers have failed to submit relevant documents which include bank statements, Mpesa statements and educational certificates.