Traffic bosses shuffled after changes in Nairobi

Nairobi, Kenya: More than ten senior traffic bosses in Nairobi have been shuffled in changes aimed at checking effectiveness in their areas.

The changes were announced by police headquarters amid murmurs by some officers that an earlier directive barring police officers from riding to a station in private cars whose drivers have been booked for minor traffic offences, was affecting their work.

Those moved include Pangani Division Traffic Officer (DTO) Charles Mwangangi who moves to Kasarani in the same capacity to replace Elena Wamuyu who moves to Buruburu.

Embakasi DTO Jenifer Mutuku was moved to Pangani in the same capacity. Ms Mutuku who is popularly known as "Bensouda" among motorists in the area will be replaced by Buruburu's Isaac Sang.

Gigiri's Julius Kombo will swap positions with Kajiado's boss Joseph Boino. The other divisions in Nairobi were not affected.

The changes came two weeks after more than 20 traffic personnel within Kabete division were moved.

The 22 officers from Kabete and Muthangari police stations were moved by Kaindi following claims of public complaints.

Among those moved include a sergeant, five corporals and 16 constables.

Among those who complained was Nakuru West MP Samuel Arama who had been arrested for speeding along Waiyaki Way.

A special police squad has been formed to monitor claims of corruption on traffic officers. The team reporting to police headquarters will be visiting various places to check on claims of corruption.

Other officials said Deputy Inspector General of Police Grace Kaindi has overturned an earlier verbal directive barring police from riding to a station in private cars whose drivers have been booked for minor traffic offences.

"Madam has overturned the earlier directive," said an officer who asked not to be named.

This was after some officers said they were finding the order difficult to implement, because some offenders fail to obey summonses.

The traffic commanders had complained that they were losing up to Sh1 milion in fines daily because most motorists did not honour the summonses.

The government collects an estimated Sh3 million every week from traffic offenders in Nairobi alone.

The law does not however bar police from riding in cars detained.

Police usually flag down vehicles, demand to enter their cars and command the driver to drive to the station for booking.

The law allows police to issue a driver with a Notice to Attend Court after the offender is booked for an offence punishable by only a fine, or imprisonment not exceeding six months.