CJ Mutunga announces measures to curb corruption on roads

Chief Justice Willy Mutunga has announced measures to curb corruption on the roads.

Speaking when he re-launched a mobile payment programme, Mutunga said that petty traffic offenders will be required to pay instant fines through mobile money transfer to prevent being hauled to courts and cells.

According to Mutunga, the resumption of the campaign, first launched over three months ago, is aimed at freeing police cells of petty offenders.

Chief justice Mutunga said: “It is a huge enterprise we are disrupting which is composed of barons that we are willing and ready to destroy.”

Reports indicate the salary of a traffic police constable in just three months is more than Sh3 million. However the salaries are thought to have been acquired in fraudulent ways.

Mutunga also said that through the new guidelines, motorists will be able to know their rights and cannot be arrested arbitrarily.

In concurrence, Inspector General Joseph Boinett said that the new move is a welcome gesture to the police force adding that his office is willing to go the extra mile to end corruption in the service.

The campaign will see all motorists issued with the guidelines on handling of traffic matters that, among other things, offer them the ability to pay via mobile banking any fines incurred without being arrested for offences punishable by a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.

“No accused persons in traffic cases will be locked up in cells without first being granted time and adequate facilities to pay fines or bail.”

The new measures, aimed at ironing out the challenges in fighting the corruption, however need a multi-prong approach given the number of traffic operations in the country.

Among the common traffic offences that have seen motorists hauled into remand cells include over speeding, driving on pavement, pedestrian walkway and disobedience of road signs and signals.

A notorious habit by traffic police officers to forcefully gain entry into offender’s vehicle is not grounded in law and as such remains prohibited.

In addition issuance of a notification to attend court on the spot offers motorists the convenience to complete their journeys.

Mutunga also noted that the Notification To Attend Court (NTAC) is electronic, and if one fails to appear, they will not be able to renew their license or insurance.

Speaking on the matter, the National Police Service Commission chairman Johnstone Kavuludi said: “We are in full support of the service since it will go a long way in weeding out corruption in the traffic department.”

The regulations are already in place in various parts of the country.