Several passengers were injured on Tuesday after a 14-seater Nakuru Line matatu crashed into a tree in Litein, Kericho County, in an incident linked to police bribery.
According to eyewitness accounts, the accident occurred when a traffic police officer, allegedly demanding a bribe, jumped into the moving vehicle after the driver refused to stop. The driver, realizing the officer was inside, is said to have driven off-road in an attempt to evade confrontation. A struggle reportedly broke out inside the matatu, during which the officer allegedly began strangling the driver.
The matatu subsequently veered off the road and rammed into a tree, leaving its front end badly mangled. Several injured passengers were rushed to a nearby medical facility for treatment.
The Motorist Association of Kenya (MAK) condemned the incident, questioning the methods used by traffic police.
“What type of enforcement is this? Reports indicate a traffic police officer jumped into a moving matatu that refused to stop for a bribe, strangled the driver, and caused a crash. Casualties have been reported,” the association stated.
This is the latest in a series of incidents highlighting the problem of bribery among traffic police in Kenya. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has repeatedly flagged the issue, warning that it compromises road safety by allowing unroadworthy vehicles to remain in operation in exchange for bribes.
Litein, situated along the busy Sotik-Kericho road, is notorious for such practices. In a recent crackdown, the EACC arrested several officers in the Rift Valley region, including two in Litein, following numerous complaints from motorists about extortion.
In its latest corruption report, the EACC ranked the National Police Service among the most corrupt institutions in Kenya, with traffic officers topping the list. The commission stressed that corruption within the traffic department not only erodes public trust but also directly contributes to road accidents.
Authorities are yet to confirm whether the officer involved in the Litein crash will face disciplinary or criminal charges.
