Railway construction site guards demand bribes from ‘love birds’

By PKEMOI NGENOH

Guards manning the ongoing construction of Makadara-Donholm railways are soliciting bribes from passers-by.

The Nairobian has learnt the guards mostly target couples that spend time under acacia trees accusing them of engaging in ‘sexual acts’.

One victim, Dan Ruto, recently had to part with Sh3,000 for the guards to release him.

“We were from Dohnholm with my cousin (girl) who was not feeling well around 3pm on a hot Friday afternoon. We decided to stop and rest under a tree. Two security guards approached us claiming they found us in a compromising position,” Dan told The Nairobian.

A security guard told Dan that two railway workers had been killed and they would be prime suspects if they did not “buy tea”.

“I was shocked and since they demanded we go record a statement at the police station, I knew they were not joking. I gave them Sh3,000 to settle the case ‘out-of-court’,” said Dan.

A teacher in the nearby school who refused to be quoted said the guards demanded Sh500 when he was caught passing near the railway construction site.