Guards squeeze bribes from pee offenders

By PKEMOI NGENOH

Security guards are taking bribes from those they find peeing in open spaces.

According to city council by-laws, it is an offence for anyone to openly pee in the city.

The security guards manning Kenya Railways property between Landi Mawe and Muthurwa market have ‘taken over’ from the city council askaris, according to ‘culprits’.

Witnesses claimed they are ‘arresting’ and taking bribes from individuals they find peeing in bushes.

They do not take the offenders to court as council askaris would do once in a while, but they demand bribes from the culprits or take it by force.

They operate between 8am and 10am when the place is not busy.

“More than six security guards approached me recently at a bushy location near Muthurwa market, claiming they found me peeing. They took my Sh3,000 threatening that if they arrested me, I would be charged with trespass and pay a fine of up to Sh10,000,” a Land Mawe resident told The Nairobian.

Another victim Mwangi said: “Though others are caught peeing, others are just arrested. This is done while some guards keep watch from both sides of the road to warn their colleagues of an approaching passer-by.”

When our correspondent visited the scene, he stopped to receive a call and more than four security guards approached him, claiming he had peed.

They ask for a bribe to set him free and our correspondent gave them Sh200 before announcing his mission.

They all took off before he captured them on camera.