Police vetting panel turns away traffic commander James Kili over Sh5,000 bribe case

Kericho Traffic Base Commander James Kiprotich Kili. PHOTO: KIPSANG JOSEPH/STANDARD

NAKURU: A police vetting panel turned away Kericho Traffic Base Commander after it emerged he has a pending corruption court case.

James Kiprotich Kili was arrested by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission officers three weeks ago for allegedly receiving a Sh5,000 bribe.

NCPC commissioner Mary Owour, who was chairing the traffic officers’ vetting panel, said it would be prejudicial for the panel to vet the officer.

Ms Owour said the officer will be vetted after the court issues its ruling.

“Mr Kili, you cannot be vetted because of the pending case in court because this can prejudice the ruling of the court,” said Owour.

She added that the fate of the officer will also be determined by the court ruling.

“The panel will have to look at the ruling and decide whether you will be retained in the service or not,” she added.

Kili said his juniors confiscated a vehicle on July 27, and in the afternoon, its three passengers were arraigned in court.

After the arrest, the commander said a person claiming to be the owner of the vehicle (a Probox) went to his office requesting to have the vehicle but he instructed him to produce the driver who fled immediately the vehicle was stopped.

He said he further requested him to deposit a cash bail of Sh5,000 until the driver was found.

Kili said during the conversation,s EACC officers stormed his office and arrested him while receiving the money, claiming that he was soliciting a bribe.

“The owner of the vehicle came to my office and while handing me the money, EACC stormed and arrested me, claiming I was taking a bribe,” he said.

Jane Wakara from Narok was taken to task for allegedly illegally arresting motorists along Narok-Nairobi route. According to the panel, there were complaints that the commander arrested a lorry driver and later demanded a Sh10,000 bribe.

The complainant, Anthony Chege, is said to have complained to the NPSC. Nyaga said the driver was arrested because his vehicle had a worn-out tyre and that the Sh10,000 was a cash bail.