Massive Traffic Jam on Ngong Road as Matatu Operators Protest Police Extortion
Key takeaways
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- Morning commuters along Nairobi’s Ngong Road were left stranded as matatu operators protested against the high bribes demanded by traffic police.
- The mid-morning protests around the Junction Mall area rendered Ngong Road impassable with motorists resorting to alternative routes.
- Angry matatu operators have recently been forced to pay bribes nearly five times a day.
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Police move to disperse crowds as Matatu operators protest along Ngong Road
The stand-off between police and irate matatu operators started pulling crowds of people prompting the police to move in and restore normalcy.
In the chaos that ensued, more and more commuters found themselves stuck in a massive traffic jam that stretched from Junction Mall to Karen.
The Ngong Road protest took place against the backdrop of an imminent nationwide Matatu strike.
In a statement issued earlier in the week, Matatu operators’ lobby groups announced a nationwide strike for increased police harassment and alleged exploitation by insurance companies.
Many Matatu owners have also lost their vehicles to auctioneers due to failure to meet strict payment deadlines.
Inside the perennial bribery accusations against traffic police
The traffic police division is one of the most scrutinized formations of the National Police Service.
Traffic police officers have long been linked to persistent bribery, particularly involving public service vehicle operators.
Although mainly targeted at PSVs, private vehicle owners, and trucks also cross paths with the men in blue, where they part with bribes in exchange for evading temporary custody and impounding of their vehicles.
Kenyan motorists have overwhelmingly reported harassment by the police as a major challenge they face on the road.
Multiple sting operations by independent agencies such as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) have done little to tame the bribery menace.
Despite the several arrests and arraignment of some traffic police officers, the national vice has not been cured.
Dozens of corrupt officers demanding bribes have been apprehended and charged by the public, a practice that has persisted since the early days of President Kibaki’s administration.
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Mass action by matatu operators is a common occurrence along Ngong Road and other motorways in the capital city.
In 2023, for instance, matatu operators protested in different parts of the city for the same concerns of bribery and extortion by police and county askaris.
Corrupt elements in the service tarnish the image of dedicated police officers who brave extreme weather conditions to ensure the smooth flow of traffic in and out of the city.
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