Police officers engaged in active traffic duties will no longer be allowed to carry firearms.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Mirriam Muli announced on Thursday via a communiqué addressed to all regional police bosses across the country.
Muli attributed the move to rising cases of traffic police officers misusing their firearms while on active duty.
“It has been noted with great concern that officers actively engaged in traffic duties are armed. This has resulted in the misuse of firearms by the officers. From today 30th November 2023, no officer actively on traffic duties will carry a firearm,” reads the communiqué.
“Commanders should ensure that this directive is complied with immediately.”
The directive came just hours after EACC boss Twalib Mbarak urged Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome to disarm all traffic police officers across the country on the grounds that some rogue traffic police officers are using state-issued firearms to confront EACC detectives when they are caught soliciting bribes on roads.
EACC detectives on Thursday dramatically arrested three traffic police officers for soliciting bribes along the Naivasha-Mai Mahiu Road.
The three officers, Corporal James Njeru and Police Constables Dickson Njagi and James Mwai are said to have solicited Ksh.15,000 from motorists an hour before their arrest, which saw the rogue cops fire in the air before being finally subdued.
