A traffic police officer arrested over receiving bribes appeared before a police vetting panel in Kisumu against his superiors' directive.
Kisii-based Constable Patrick Mumo was last Friday arrested by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) officers.
Mr Mumo found himself in a tight spot after appearing for the ongoing traffic police vetting in Kisumu when he was expected to present himself before a disciplinary committee (police orderly proceedings) in Kisii over his arrest by the anti-graft detectives.
The officer was hard-pressed to explain why he defied the order by his boss, Inspector Albert Kiptoo.
He told the panel chaired by Commissioner Ronald Musengi that he followed an earlier order to appear before the panel and ignored the latest directive from his boss.
Mumo was arrested alongside two other officers while on duty and Sh24,000 in varying denominations found in their possession at a road block in Kisii.
They are out on free bond and are expected to appear in court after EACC completes investigations.
Mumo, however, denied being found with the cash and accused the anti-graft watchdog of planting the money on him.
"The officers said they found the money in our pockets, but I do not know the source of that money; I did not have any money on me," he said.
Nyanza regional Police Commander Willy Lugusa, a member of the panel, criticised the officer for defying an order from his superior in what he termed as an open act of defiance.
"Were there any directives from the police in Kisii to you not to attend this vetting?" posed Mr Lugusa.
"You have been in the force for 22 years and you understand that the last order stands; and the last order was that you go for the orderly room proceedings today."
Mumo said they were out on police bond and that he was respecting the National Police Service Commission's summon to appear for vetting.
Before being grilled for defying orders, Mumo had been at pains to explain why he received money running into hundreds of thousands from colleagues and motorists.
He was also tasked to explain why large sums of money were sent to his phone by M-Pesa agents in Kisii, but could not explain they were from.
The police driver was further unable to convince the panel why a police mechanic and a person operating a towing vehicle sent him money.
Asked why received money from the car tower he answered: "He bought me lunch."
On further probing, Mumo admitted he called the firm run by one Mr Robert whenever there was an accident and a vehicle needed to be towed.
