NAIROBI, Kenya — Police officers are under fire for allegedly harassing Nairobi-based pick-up truck operators who claim they are routinely targeted for arrest and prosecution after refusing to pay bribes.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure on Thursday, members of the Chapa Works network painted a grim picture of intimidation, extortion and abuse by rogue officers.
Stephen Mburu, Mary Ndung’u, John Wanjeru, Daniel Kamau and James Macharia shared personal accounts of arbitrary arrests and being dragged to court on trumped-up charges.
The lawmakers expressed outrage over the revelations and pledged to take swift action.
“We are committed to helping you find redress and ensuring that all transport operators are treated fairly,” said committee chair and Ndia MP George Kariuki.
Kariuki also directed the Office of the Clerk to assist the operators in formalising their grievances into a formal petition to Parliament.
He further criticised the police for failing to attend the session, saying their absence denied them the opportunity to respond to the serious claims.
Limuru MP John Kiragu pointed fingers at the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), accusing it of giving enforcement powers to police officers without proper oversight.
“KeNHA should be held accountable for allowing enforcement that ends up being misused by the police,” Kiragu said.
Nakuru Town West MP Samuel Arama called for clearly defined enforcement roles among road and transport agencies, warning that the current loopholes enable exploitation of informal sector players.
Rarieda MP TJ Kajwang urged the Chapa Works network to expand their advocacy efforts beyond Nairobi and gather data from other regions.
“You are not just representing Nairobi; you are speaking for pick-up truck operators across the country,” he said. “Conduct nationwide research and present factual data to strengthen your case.”
The committee reaffirmed its commitment to protecting informal workers and pledged to engage relevant government agencies to ensure transport operators are not subjected to harassment and extortion.
