Japhet Koome, the new inspector general of police, says he is not pleased with the level of corruption during traffic checks just two days after assuming office.
He mandated that everyone doing traffic inspections on Sunday, November 13, wear name tags and service numerals.
Koome advised the regional commanders to keep developing their leadership responsibilities and support the officers’ work.
“All those doing on-road inspections must wear name badges and service numerals. “The corruption occurring during road checks is making the officers themselves upset,” he remarked.
He expressed his confidence in the commanders’ ability to address the threat.
Two days after taking over as the IG and becoming the fourth commander of the service, Koome made the comments.
He expressed his confidence in the commanders’ ability to address the threat.
Two days after taking over as the IG and becoming the fourth commander of the military, Koome made the comments.
He has worked in the service for more than 30 years, therefore he is familiar with its events.
Before being appointed as the IG, Koome served as the commandant of the NPS Training College in Kiganjo.
He has extensive knowledge of police operations because he served as the Deputy Inspector General of Kenya’s police department’s principal assistant.
In the past, officials have cautioned police officers against setting up roadblocks anywhere without permission.
No car should be kept on the road for a significant amount of time without justification, they were informed.
Despite a previous direction to the contrary, according to officials, obstacles are still being built on the motorways without permission.
Each commander was instructed to verify that there were no barricades, static traffic inspections, hours-long vehicle detentions, or collecting bribes from drivers within their areas of responsibility.
The concerned base commanders and traffic management were to be closely and thoroughly supervised, the commanders were instructed.
According to a previous regulation, any authorized roadblock had to be manned by a multi-agency team and serve a legitimate purpose rather than just for personal gain.
This was in response to complaints from the public that the barriers were still up despite a previous order to take them down.
However, many drivers alleged they were the targets of extortion and harassment.
Online footage of police officers accepting bribes at roadblocks have gone viral.
In a previous directive, Deputy Inspector General of Kenya Police Edward Mbugua stated that “checkpoints and roadblocks on highways are only to be mounted with the express authority of regional-formation commanders and must be justified and rationalized.”
For instance, there is a permanent roadblock to prevent drugs and human trafficking on the major Nairobi-Garissa highway and the Nairobi-Marsabit Road.
Multi-agency teams are assigned to similar hurdles.
Despite a previous directive ordering the removal of roadblocks and their replacement with movable ones, it soon became clear that some cops were still making money off the barricades.
Traffic personnel are still erecting barriers in the Rift Valley, which has the busiest international route connecting Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the DRC, despite the instructions..
