By Patricia Mollyne Mataga
A traffic police officer captured on video receiving a bribe from a motorist has been identified and suspended, the National Police Service (NPS) has announced.
Videos of the officer allegedly receiving the bribe have been shared widely on various social media.
In a statement on Friday, April 12, 2024, NPS said the said officer had been identified as Haron Mwangi, attached to the Buruburu Police Station.
The police service said proceedings for the dismissal of the officer are ongoing.
“Please be informed that the National Police Service has positively identified the Traffic Police Officer seen in the video clip circulating on social media, while allegedly collecting bribes from public service vehicles,” NPS said in part of the statement posted on their verified X handle.
“The Officer, No. 63151 PC Haron Mwangi, attached to Traffic within Buruburu Police Station has been suspended from Traffic Police Unit with immediate effect, and proceedings for his dismissal are ongoing,” it added.
Meanwhile, the National Police Service commended members of the public for their continued support in the fight against corruption.
It also affirmed its commitment to ensuring the police service is rid of the vice.
“The National Police Service takes this opportunity to commend members of the public and Members of the Press for their continued collaboration with NPS in the fight against corruption,” the agency said.
NPS added that it “remains committed to its constitutional mandate of fighting corruption; striving for the highest standards of professionalism and discipline among its members; promoting accountability and transparency; and upholding the rule of law.”
Traffic Police officers have in recent years been rated among the most corrupt departments in the National Police Service.
A March 2023 report by the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission noted that a traffic police was likely to ask for a bribe three times more than his administration counterpart, a new survey by EACC shows.
“There is a likelihood that each time a service is sought in the Traffic police department, county health department and in the regular police one is likely to be asked for a bribe 1.45, 1.05 and 1.02 times, respectively,” the survey revealed.