Revealed: How Kenyan Police Chiefs Profit from Traffic Corruption

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission announced on July 14, 2022, that they had seized assets worth 27 million Kenyan shillings belonging to former senior traffic police officer Gabriel Mulei.

Mulei, who had served in various traffic departments across Kenya including Kiambu and Malindi, faced accusations of illegally amassing a substantial fortune during his tenure. This claim was substantiated by a High Court ruling on June 30, 2022, which concluded that Mulei had failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the origins of his wealth, particularly during the period from June 18, 2008, to February 11, 2011. The EACC's investigation uncovered that Mulei's ill-gotten gains included Sh8,153,959 held in multiple bank accounts, six parcels of land, and four motor vehicles valued at Sh19,420,000. The stark contrast between Mulei's declared monthly salary of Sh20,000 and his accumulated assets raised serious concerns about the integrity of enforcement officers and highlighted systemic corruption within Kenya's traffic police.

As a result of the court's judgment, Mulei was ordered to forfeit these unexplained assets to the government and pay an additional sum of Sh10 million. In 2016, Constable Susan Wangari Kamau faced similar scrutiny during a vetting session by the National Police Service Commission. Despite her monthly earnings being comparable to Mulei's, Wangari struggled to justify Sh5 million in her bank accounts. She attributed her wealth to ownership of several businesses, including a clothing shop and rental properties, but faced challenges in explaining specific financial transactions. The extent of corruption within the Traffic Police Unit was further exposed by a task force led by retired Chief Justice David Maraga. The report, presented to President William Ruto in November 2022, revealed that bribes collected by lower-ranking officers were routinely shared with their superiors.

The task force's findings demonstrated that corruption permeated all levels of the traffic department, from junior officers stationed at roadblocks to senior executives in command positions. The report criticized police leadership for their lack of action, noting that no officer had been dismissed for involvement in corruption, implying possible complicity among police commanders. To address these systemic issues, Maraga recommended disbanding the existing traffic department and establishing a new Traffic Control Unit. He suggested that all personnel from the old unit should be excluded from reassignment to the new department to ensure a complete overhaul and restore public confidence.

These reforms were deemed necessary to combat the long-standing perception of the traffic department as the most corrupt segment of the police service. In response to the Maraga report, Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat has initiated a realignment of the traffic department. This process involves transferring several high-ranking officers and appointing new personnel who have not previously served in the unit. Recent reshuffles have seen key traffic commanders being moved to other police duties, indicating a broader strategy to eradicate corruption and inefficiency. As Lagat implements these changes, he reiterates the commitment to ongoing police reform processes outlined in the Maraga task force report.

The report warns that failure to implement significant reforms could lead to perpetual road safety issues, with increasing incidents of traffic violations and corruption undermining the enforcement of crucial traffic regulations. Additionally, the recommendations emphasize that local police commanders should oversee traffic officers to enhance accountability and reduce opportunities for corruption.