This archive report was first published on 9 July 2020.
On July 3, 2020, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Edward Mbugua issued a stern warning to police commanders, ordering them to immediately cease the reintroduction of static roadblocks.
According to a memo dated July 3, 2020, Mbugua accused some commanders of seeking to fill their pockets with bribes in the name of enforcing COVID-19 regulations.
"I am disappointed by some of you as you have reintroduced static traffic checks," Mbugua said in the memo.
Despite the redeployment of traffic officers to general duties, some commanders had started putting back on the roads more officers in contravention of an order issued by the Inspector-General of Police Hillary Mutyambai.
"You are all aware that the Inspector-General, National Police Service launched traffic management where mobile traffic checks were introduced instead of static traffic checks…It does not require rocket science to know the motive. It is simply to engage in corrupt practices for the commander and the deployed benefit," Mbugua reminded his juniors.
The officer specifically mentioned that police commanders had resumed static roadblocks on Mombasa-Nairobi Road and Nairobi-Nakuru-Kisumu Road.
"I take this opportunity to warn you to immediately rescind the said transfers otherwise appropriate action will be taken against defaulters," Mbugua said.
