All traffic police officers have been ordered not to carry guns while on duty along roads and highways in Kenya.
In a statement released on Thursday, November 30, the deputy Inspector general of police instructed all traffic police commanders to ensure the new directive is adhered to.
“It has been noted with great concern that officers actively engaged on traffic duties are armed (carry firearms).
“This has resulted in misuse of the firearms by the officers, from today 30th November 2023 no officer actively on traffic duties will carry a firearm,” read part of statement from the police headquarters in Nairobi.
The directive was issued, a few hours after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) boss Twalib Mbarak urged the government to take away guns from all traffic police officers in the country.
The Commission’s CEO made the remarks on Thursday, November 30, during a crackdown on corrupt police officers in Naivasha.
In a press statement, Mbarak urged the Inspector General of Police to disarm all traffic police officers to avoid posing a risk to EACC officers when conducting operations.
This was after three police officers were arrested during a crackdown on corrupt officers in Naivasha.
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“EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak confirmed the arrest and called upon the Inspector General of Police to disarm all police officers managing traffic considering the risk they continue to pose to EACC Officers when conducting operations in response to the menace of traffic corruption on Kenyan roads,” EACC noted in a statement.
The operation was conducted along Naivasha Mai Mahiu Road, Karigita turn-off in Naivasha following reports of police officers collecting bribes from motorists.
During the operation, a scuffle ensued when two other police officers resisted arrest and escaped into the nearby bushes aided by one who was firing at EACC detectives who were pursuing them.
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During the scuffle and shooting, the two police officers took away some of the money that had been recovered by EACC detectives amounting to about Ksh15000 collected in one hour.
The arrested suspects were escorted to Integrity Centre Police Station where they were processed.
The three officers are currently being held at Kilimani Police Station, waiting for arraignment in court.
