Passengers Injured After Police Officer Strangles Matatu Driver in Moving Vehicle Near Litein

A matatu traveling along the Litein-Kericho route was involved in a serious accident near Litein in Kericho County on Tuesday, resulting in multiple casualties.

The crash, involving a Nakuru Line matatu on Tuesday morning, allegedly stemmed from a traffic officer's attempt to solicit a bribe, escalating into a violent struggle within the moving vehicle and ultimately causing the driver to lose control. Several passengers were injured when the matatu veered off the Litein-Kericho route and crashed into a tree.

Eyewitness accounts paint a disturbing picture, suggesting the officer boarded the moving matatu with the intention of extracting a payment from the driver. Sources indicate that as the driver attempted to evade the officer, a confrontation ensued that quickly turned physical. It is alleged the officer then attempted to strangle the driver, causing the matatu to veer off the road and leading to the crash.

The Motorist Association of Kenya (MAK) has reacted with fierce condemnation, lambasting what they perceive as a systemic culture of "rogue enforcement tactics". The Association's statement asserts that such behaviours not only put lives at risk but also irreparably damage public trust in those sworn to uphold the law. According to the Association, this wasn’t enforcement but criminality, leading to casualties because of 'reckless and corrupt policing'.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has previously identified Litein as a notorious hotspot for extortion by traffic officers. Their investigations have consistently highlighted the link between petty bribery and wider road safety failures. Reports suggest a compromised system that enables unroadworthy vehicles to operate freely in exchange for illicit payments.

Arrests of officers in the region have already occurred, including those previously stationed in Litein. Indeed, the EACC has consistently identified traffic police as among the most corrupt elements within the National Police Service. The Commission maintains that such corruption not only undermines the rule of law, but directly contributes to preventable accidents, as enforcement becomes selective and compromised.