47 Police officers from the traffic department in Machakos County have been redeployed to general duties after allegedly “leading an extortion ring”
Hot News is in possession of a letter signed by Machakos County Police boss John D.K Muiruri redeploying the officers from the traffic department.
Several police officers who spoke to Hot News said the officers were redeployed after it was discovered that most of them were fond of taking bribes.
Others said it was normal redeployment.
Another police officer said the new Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai witnessed the ugly side of his officers after they harassed him and demanded a bribe from him as he was being driven home on Monday.
According to a fakebook post doing rounds on social media, Mutyambai had hired a taxi to get to his rural home along the Machakos-Kitui road.
On reaching Wamunyu, a traffic cop stopped the vehicle.
The police boss then sought to know the problem.
“The no-nonsense traffic officer was joined by his colleague who equally did not recognize their boss since he was in civilian. They did what they do best – threaten and intimidate civilians. Wewe mzee nyamaza ama tukuweke ndani (You old man remain silent or we will throw you behind bars). One of the junior officers allegedly told the former spy,” the post read.
The post went on to say that the IG took his phone and sent some money via M-pesa to the duo so as to secure freedom of the taxi driver and his.
According to the post, Mutyambai got back to Nairobi and fired the two culprits and transferred all traffic police officers in Machakos County led by County Traffic Commander.
However, Hot News could not independently verify the authenticity of the post.
National Police Spokesman Charles Owino did not respond to our enquiries regarding the incident.
He had not answered a text message sent to his phone by the time of going to press.
“These officers have been demoted. They all operated from the office of the base commander. Their white caps have been taken away,” said another police officer.
Hot News could not immediately identify the two officers that were allegedly sacked after the IG allegedly sent them a bribe to their individual mobile phones.
Mutyambai’s successor, Joseph Boinet also had a similar experience in 2018 while attending an official function in 2018.
Boinet was being driven to the Madaraka Day celebrations in Meru when he encountered the notorious miraa drivers who ply the Nairobi-Meru highway.
At some point, the IG’s vehicle had to give way after being pushed off the road by the speeding miraa trucks.
The Post said the IG would later issue a crackdown on the vehicles.
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