- The deputy IG directed Commanders to ensure the directive is adhered to.
- She cited misuse of firearms by Traffic officers.
Image: FILE
Police officers carrying out Traffic duties will no longer carry firearms to their work stations.
This follows a directive by Deputy Inspector General, Kenya Police Service Douglas Kanja.
In a Memo dated November 30, Kanja’s deputy Miriam Muli said that effective November 30, officers actively discharging Traffic duties will no longer carry firearms.
She cited misuse of firearms by Traffic officers.
The deputy IG directed Commanders to ensure the directive is adhered to.
"It has been noted with great concern that officers actively engaged in Traffic duties are armed (carrying firearms). This has resulted in misuse of the firearms by the officers.
"From today, November 30, 2023, no officer actively on Traffic duties will carry a firearm. Commanders ensure that this directive is complied with promptly. Confirm copied and compliance," reads the memo.
A senior officer who spoke to the Star, however, said that the directive was not new, and is only being enforced.
"This directive is not a new one," he said.
The directive comes after the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission CEO Twalib Mbarak called for the disarming of traffic officers.
Addressing the media at the Integrity Centre on Thursday, Mbarak said the Commission's officers moved in to arrest officers who were openly receiving bribes from motorists, but one managed to escape.
The officer tried to fire at EACC officers obstructing his arrest.
"He was armed and tried to fire at our officers. Fortunately, there were no injuries, but he managed to escape," Mbarak said.
He stated that the Commission is in communication with the office of the Inspector General on the issue.
"Our position as the EACC in coordination with the office of the Inspector General, we are in communication with the IG and he supports our operations, is that traffic policemen and policewomen should never be armed unless it is extremely necessary for their safety," he said.
Mbarak said the issue of major highways having armed traffic cops is meant to scare Integrity and Anti-Corruption officers from fulfilling their operations.