Major changes in traffic department as operations are put under police county commanders

Traffic police operations and command were devolved and put under the county commanders in the country {Photo Courtesy}

Police headquarters has reorganised the traffic department in a bid to stamp out corruption among officers and enhance operations.

Traffic police operations and command were devolved and put under the county commanders in the country.

A team of senior officers met and reviewed the command and structure of the police units before announcing the changes.

The changes will see traffic operations moved from its headquarters along Thika Road, Nairobi.

“The review committee has decided to put the command and operations of traffic under the county commanders,” said a senior officer aware of the developments.

Deputy Inspector General of police Joel Kitili said the decentralization is aimed at ensuring better management of affairs.

“County commanders will be responsible for the day to day traffic operations and the personnel, arms, vehicles and other equipment will be directly under their charge,” he said.

County and divisional traffic officers have been reporting to the traffic commandant in terms of operations.

The current traffic commandant is Jecinta Kinyua.

In the new arrangements, traffic headquarters will manage research, government vehicle unit, and check unit, highway patrol, driving schools, and National Transport and Safety Authority officers, formulation of policies and organization of courses for officers at various levels.

The move was praised by many police commanders who said it will make management and operations easy.

This will mean if there are claims of corruption at a certain area, the county commander will be asked to explain and take action.

It also means the Divisional Traffic Officers (DTOs) will be under the Officers Commanding Police Division (OCPDs).

Under former police boss Maj Gen Mohammed Hussein Ali, traffic police were under the PPOs or OCPDs in respective provinces and divisions. This was changed later on.

Surveys say traffic police are the most corrupt in the national police. Various efforts are being made to correct the notion.

The Unit is established to support various functions of the Kenya Police Service in accordance with Section 24 of the National Police Service Act, 2011.

They include ensuring of free flow of traffic, prevention of Road Accidents and investigation of accidents

They are also supposed to do enforcement of all Laws, Rules and Regulations with which the department is charged and initiate road safety sensitization to the members of the public.

in a bid to stamp out corruption among officers and enhance operations.

 Traffic police operations and command were devolved and put under the county commanders in the country.

A team of senior officers met and reviewed the command and structure of the police units before announcing the changes.

The changes will see traffic operations moved from its headquarters along Thika Road, Nairobi.

“The review committee has decided to put the command and operations of traffic under the county commanders,” said a senior officer aware of the developments.

Deputy Inspector General of police Joel Kitili said the decentralization is aimed at ensuring better management of affairs.

“County commanders will be responsible for the day to day traffic operations and the personnel, arms, vehicles and other equipment will be directly under their charge,” he said.

County and divisional traffic officers have been reporting to the traffic commandant in terms of operations.

The current traffic commandant is Jecinta Kinyua.

In the new arrangements, traffic headquarters will manage research, government vehicle unit, and check unit, highway patrol, driving schools, and National Transport and Safety Authority officers, formulation of policies and organization of courses for officers at various levels.

The move was praised by many police commanders who said it will make management and operations easy.

This will mean if there are claims of corruption at a certain area, the county commander will be asked to explain and take action.

It also means the Divisional Traffic Officers (DTOs) will be under the Officers Commanding Police Division (OCPDs).

Under former police boss Maj Gen Mohammed Hussein Ali, traffic police were under the PPOs or OCPDs in respective provinces and divisions. This was changed later on.

Surveys say traffic police are the most corrupt in the national police. Various efforts are being made to correct the notion.

The Unit is established to support various functions of the Kenya Police Service in accordance with Section 24 of the National Police Service Act, 2011.

They include ensuring of free flow of traffic, prevention of Road Accidents and investigation of accidents

They are also supposed to do enforcement of all Laws, Rules and Regulations with which the department is charged and initiate road safety sensitization to the members of the public.