Public to blame for corruption on roads – Traffic boss

Traffic police in Kisumu have blamed the public for perpetuating corruption in the county.

Nyanza Traffic boss Joshua Omukata accused the public and matatu operators of bribing traffic officers in order to get away from traffic offenses.

Speaking to Matatu owners from Western Kenya, Omukata said that, instead of abiding to traffic regulations, the public have sought to compromise traffic officers by consistently giving out bribes on roads.

He further added that the number of accidents in the county have gone up due to rampant cases of corruption from the public that go unreported.

“Fingers are always pointed at police when it comes to corruption and yet it is the public who are the major players in perpetuating corruption,” he said.

Omukata wants the public to shun forcing police into bribery and obey all the traffic rules that are in existence.

He said accidents will only be reduced if persons will be ready to face the law and not opt for bribes to get away with traffic offenses.

This comes after it was raised by a section of matatu owners in Kisumu County that their operations are ever thwarted by traffic police officers who are only keen at milking money from them.

The probe over traffic police officers has been so high following last month’s incident in Athi River along Nairobi- Mombasa highway where three police officers were convicted by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) officials while taking bribe.