Africa-Press – Kenya. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has reiterated that corruption in traffic management is the main cause of the rampant violations of traffic laws by motorists.
These violations, it added, have led to the increasing deaths of passengers from road accidents.
EACC Spokesperson Eric Ngumbi said the Commission is concerned that many Kenyans do not in any way appreciate the heavy cost of traffic corruption.
He said this is often regarded as a petty offence undeserving attention, yet it continues to cause death and permanent disabilities arising from road accidents.
Ngumbi was speaking at the burial of the late Joshua Nzomo Sila and his son Travis Muuo both who perished in the ill-fated 14-seater matatu rolled several times in a valley at Kwa Mbisu area along Kikima-Machakos road.
He revealed that from EACC’s investigations, nearly all roadblocks in the country operate as corruption toll stations.
“It is this impunity that often leads to loss of lives and injuries through road accidents that could otherwise have been avoided,” EACC Spokesperson said.
Ngumbi blamed the problem of corruption on Kenyan roads on some rogue officers.
He also blamed a section of traffic police officers who he said breach public trust by erecting roadblocks from as early as 5 am daily purely to extort money from motorists while doing nothing at all to enforce traffic laws.
Further, he faulted drivers who deliberately fail to comply with traffic safety in favour the short cuts of bribing law enforcement officers thus putting the lives of passengers at risk.
EACC also pointed a finger on passengers who contribute to poor enforcement of traffic laws by tolerating the violations such as the carrying of excess passengers.
Ngumbi said that to mitigate the challenge of corruption on Kenyan roads, appropriate measures should be implemented.
EACC also recommended prioritising implementation of the Report of former Chief Justice David Maraga-led Task Force on Police Reforms which proposes stringed reform measures to end corruption on Kenyan roads.
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