Officers undergoing vetting accuse their traffic counterparts of leading in corruption

Kisumu, Kenya: Police officers undergoing vetting in Kisumu have accused their traffic counterparts of tainting police image by accepting bribes and fuelling corruption in the service.

While admitting there was rampant corruption in the police service, the officers most of whom are in the position of Officer Commanding Police Divisions (OCPDs) in various regions in the country, said the traffic department was spoiling the good name of the service.

Rarieda OCPD, Johana Chebii who has served in the police service for 34 years told the six member panel that senior officials in the police department do demand for bribe, an act which has seen the reputation of the police diminishing in the country.

"It is true that there is corruption in the police service but rampant in the traffic department which has for many years given us a bad name," said Chebii.

Chebii also blamed the public for inducing the officers, and called on them to stop doing that as it is fuelling the already bad practice.

"The police are not expected to harass suspects and those who are caught should face full force of the law without fear or favour, "said Chebii.

John Kakayi who is currently the Administration Police Commandant in Kisumu West Sub-County said since time immemorial traffic police officers have tainted their image as they are the ones being spotted every now and then doing so.

He however said this does not mean that there are no officers in other departments who are not doing the same.

"I usually supervise my juniors closely and on many occasions talk to them to avoid such vices," said Kakayi but also took a swipe at the members of the public for dishing out bribes.

"If services are for free, members of the public should demand for them and not issue kickbacks," said Kakayi.

The Police vetting process which is conducted by the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) has heard how senior police officers demand for bribe in order to promote the junior officers.

They termed their senior’s demand for bribe from them for promotion as an act that has constantly fuelled corruption menace in the system.

Turkana East OCPD Josephat Muturi who was also vetted in Kisumu on Monday said he was once denied promotion because he could not offer bribe to a senior officer who was a Provincial Police Officer at that time.

"When I refused to issue a bribe, I was told that another officer would be brought as an OCS and I will work under him, and that was exactly what happened," said Muturi.

Muturi who has served in the service for 23 years was later transferred to Daadab from Liboi.

The commission, chaired by Johnston Kavuludi are in Kisumu for a five day vetting exercise aimed at restructuring the police department following the state of insecurity in the country.

Speaking to the press after the vetting process the NPSC Vice chair, Mary Owuor said that they have not experienced any serious corruption case except of a few odd cases.

"We expect to vet more than 108 police officers and so far we have vetted 80 members. It is a requirement by the Police Act for vetting to be conducted and so the officers have no reason to fear," Owuor said.

She assured the police that their vetting results will be out in 3 months' time and that they should go back to the stations and work without fear of dismissal.