No roadblocks without approval, warns police boss

Police officers have been warned against erecting any roadblock anywhere without official approval.

Any approved roadblock must be staffed by a multi-agency team and have an approved purpose — not personal enrichment, Deputy Inspector General of Police Edward Mbugua said Sunday.

Mbugua issued the directive following public complaints that the barriers are still being erected despite an earlier order to remove them.

Many were set up to enforce the recent cessation of movement in Nairobi and four  adjacent counties to curb the spread of Covid-19. Many motorists and others, however, complained they were being harassed and extorted. There have been viral videos online showing police officers taking bribes at the roadblocks.

Mbugua’s move is the latest in a series of steps to end the roadblock menace whereby police mount barriers and demand bribes.  It's a long-standing problem.

Checkpoints and roadblocks on highways are only to be mounted with the express authority of regional-formation commanders and must be justified and rationalised, Mbugua said. Every roadblock must have a specific purpose.

For instance, there is a permanent roadblock on the major Nairobi-Garissa highway and the Nairobi-Marsabit Road to stop drugs and human trafficking. Similar barriers are staffed by multi-agency teams.

The memo said subcounty and the station commanders will be held accountable for any unauthorised roadblock in their jurisdiction.

“This must be taken seriously and cascaded to all stations,” Mbugua said in a memo to police regional and formation commanders.

The multi-agency team will comprised of traffic police, officials from the National Government Administration and those from the National Intelligence Service.

In January this year, police headquarters sent squads to crack down on traffic personnel ignoring orders to abolish fixed roadblocks.

Dozens of police officers were arrested and disciplined internally.

Despite an order by Police IG Hillary Mutyambai that fixed roadblocks be abolished and replaced by mobile ones, it emerged dozens of officers were still using the barricades for personal enrichment.

For instance, in Rift Valley — with the busiest international highway connecting Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan and DRC —traffic personnel are still setting up barriers despite the orders.

Regional police commander Marcus Ocholla said in an internal memo he had noted an increase in the number of fixed traffic checks, which he said are used specifically for personal gain and not detection of traffic offences.

When he came to office on April 8, 2019, Mutyambai said he would streamline traffic operations.

He introduced 38 patrol cars on major highways to conduct random checks of specific routes and abolish roadblocks.

Mutyambai said the cars would have four personnel, including the officer-in-charge, the driver and two others.

“There will be no discussions with traffic offenders at any  checkpoints and the checks should not affect the free flow of the traffic,” he said.

He said trained personnel had been deployed in all towns to facilitate the free flow of traffic and ensure prompt response to incidents.

The IG commissioned 25 additional new cars to be on the routes and enhance operations.

The vehicles included 17 that were distributed to major highways and eight to regional commanders for their patrols.

“No officer should be deployed to perform traffic duties without service experience of 10 years and all personnel should be in proper uniforms with displayed service tags,” Mutyambai said.

He had announced that patrols had been enhanced on major highways to address any fears following the withdrawal of traffic checkpoints and roadblocks.

Many traffic personnel manning roadblocks were deployed to general duties.

Commanders will be held responsible for any unpunished misconduct by traffic officers under their command.

(Edited by V. Graham)