Five traffic police officers arrested extorting money from motorists in Mumias

Detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) arrested five traffic police officers on Thursday for extorting money from motorists in the Ekero area along Kakamega-Bungoma Road in Mumias, Kakamega County.

The five are Senior Sergeant Julius Kiprotich, Corporal Edna Jeruto, and constables Caroline Emong’ole, John Sugut and Eric Otwane.

EACC said their arrest followed investigations into multiple complaints from motorists, motorcyclists and members of the public that the officers were extorting money from motorists under the guise of traffic law enforcement without conducting any checks on the vehicles.

“During the arrest, one suspect attempted to escape from the scene on a motorcycle, but the riders who had gathered at the scene in support of the EACC operation refused to transport him,” EACC said.

The suspects were taken to the EACC Western Regional Office in Bungoma, where they are undergoing processing.

The anti-graft agency said they would later be escorted to Bungoma Police Station.