MURANG’A, Kenya — Officers from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) have arrested two traffic police officers in separate operations in Mombasa and Murang’a counties over alleged corruption, following a surge in public complaints about bribery on major roads during the festive season.
The commission said the arrests were carried out on Tuesday, December 30, after intelligence-led operations targeting traffic officers accused of routinely soliciting bribes from motorists.
In the first incident, an officer attached to the Murang’a traffic base was arrested along the Kenol–Murang’a Road.
EACC officers recovered Sh6,450 in cash, in denominations of Sh50, Sh100 and Sh200, which investigators believe had been collected from motorists within a span of about two hours.
The officer was escorted to the commission’s Central Regional Offices for processing before being booked at Nyeri Police Station.
He was later released on cash bail pending further investigations.
In Mombasa County, EACC officers arrested another traffic officer along the busy Mtwapa–Malindi Road, a stretch frequently cited by motorists as a bribery hotspot.
Upon arrest, the officer was found in possession of Sh13,750 in Sh100 notes, which the commission believes were proceeds of corruption.
“Upon arrest, Sh13,750 in various denominations was recovered from the suspect. He was escorted to the EACC Upper Coast Regional Office in Malindi for statement recording and further processing,” the commission said in a statement.
–Authorities Warn Against Corruption in Traffic Police Ranks–
The commission noted that the two arrests were conducted independently but followed a similar pattern of public complaints alleging that traffic officers were demanding bribes without carrying out any legitimate inspections or enforcement of traffic laws.
EACC said the operations form part of a broader crackdown on corruption within essential public services, particularly the National Police Service, where traffic enforcement has remained one of the most corruption-prone areas.
The commission warned that it would sustain surveillance and intelligence-gathering operations, especially during peak travel periods when cases of bribery tend to rise.
“EACC continues to scale up intelligence gathering and surveillance targeting essential public services and sectors prone to corruption, with a view to promoting integrity, accountability and professionalism in public service,” the statement said.
-More Arrests By EACC-
The latest arrests come just days after EACC apprehended three other traffic officers, including a police inspector, along the Kisumu–Kisii Road at Sondu on Saturday, December 27.
The three were allegedly caught soliciting and receiving bribes from motorists without conducting inspections or enforcing traffic regulations.
According to the commission, the officers at Sondu were found in possession of cash in various denominations suspected to be proceeds of corruption. They were taken in for questioning as investigations continue.
Anti-corruption watchdogs and governance experts have repeatedly pointed to traffic policing as a key test of Kenya’s broader integrity reforms, citing frequent complaints from motorists and long-distance drivers.
Under the Constitution and the Leadership and Integrity Act, public officers are required to exercise authority in a manner that promotes public confidence and avoids abuse of office for personal gain.
Corruption offences under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act attract penalties that include fines, imprisonment, and dismissal from public service.
EACC urged members of the public to continue reporting incidents of bribery and abuse of office, saying public cooperation remains critical in dismantling entrenched corruption networks within law enforcement agencies.
 arrests two traffic police officers in Murang’a and Mombasa counties following public complaints of bribery during the festive season, signaling a crackdown on corruption.){kind=link}