The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) conducts random checks on the country’s roads and highways.

In a statement released Thursday, June 23, the agency said it launched the crackdown after receiving an influx of motorists flouting traffic rules.

In early spot checks, the crackdown, which targets both motorists and traffic police officers, caught a number of culprits caught offering or receiving bribes.

Among them were police officers who were arrested while enforcing the rules along the Embu-Meru highway near Kangaru Girls’ High School.

The officers, who were eventually arrested, first disappeared leaving their government-issued vehicle on the highway.

The EACC reiterated that although TNZT blame law enforcement officials for seeking bribes, some road users willingly offer bribes once they see that they broke the law.

“Following reports of corruption on major roads, the EACC conducted random spot checks and noted that in addition to culpability attributable to traffic police officers, many road users deliberately flout the rules of the road and then offer bribes to the police.

“Road users are reminded that it is a criminal offense to offer or give a bribe to a public official. As part of mitigating challenges on our roads, citizens must embrace the culture of l ‘Obedience to the law, including full compliance with traffic requirements,’ the statement read in part.

Corruption is a thorny problem across the country, affecting several sectors of the economy, from transportation to government as well as private entities.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has previously confirmed that Kenya loses Ksh 2 billion every day to corruption, of which corruption is an active player.

A recent report from Reuters estimates that the country loses a third of its annual budget to corruption cases through corruption.

TNZT caught bribing can be jailed for up to 10 years or fined up to Ksh 5 million.

EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak after presenting a check to the Kenya Covid-19 Fund on April 28, 2020.

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