Corrupt police officers quarrel over bribes

Residents living along Murang'a common borders' trading centres have complained of being recruited into involuntary extortion racket by corrupt police and administration officers across the neighbouring security committees.

This is after some rogue officers serving in security committees that share the borders take advantage of the confusion in the boundaries to operate on both sides in pursuit of 'eating' opportunities.

The nature of the boundaries is that, the left side of the tarmac road is in a different sub-County from the right side hence finding one part of a town being in different security management from the other.

Most affected are those trading in the Murang'a and Kiambu counties' boundary at near the Blue Post hotel, Makenji, Kabati, Kenol, Karugia, Mutoho, Sabasaba and Kaharate--all along Thika-Muranga road.

At the Kiambu and Murang'a common border has Thika West, Gatanga, and Ithanga Kakuzi sub-counties' security committees clashing on who 'eats' from the traders.

At Makenji and Kabati trading centres, the traders are complaining of being pitted against Ithanga Kakuzi, and Kandara security committees whereas those at Mutoho, Karugia, and Kenol are suffering in clashes between Kandara and Murang'a South security committees.

At Sabasaba and Kaharate, the clash is between Murang'a South and Kigumo sub-County security committees, traders now demanding that the boundaries be respected and each security establishment stick to their respective jurisdiction.

"We are tired of this corruption.  For instance, you find two(2) police stations from two(2) different sub-counties demanding ‘protection fees’ amounting to as high as Sh3,000 from bars per week. The administration officers come in and demand Sh2,000 per week as their juniors demand to be treated to free liquor," said Mr James Ngugi who chairs Murang'a Small Scale Urban Traders Association.

He says "bribery is a key component in trading especially for liquor traders...you know, these things happen and sometimes they are normal. But we must have order and mutual pacts on how it should be done...what we now have is senseless ripoff".

The sectors most affected by this vice that residents are calling "over-bribing demand" are liquor, pineapple, building materials, livestock transport and sales as well as public transport.

Others who are complaining are boda boda operators and Commercial Sex Workers who decry being required to give bribes to government officers serving the common borders.

In one(1) of the October 27, 2024's official complaints by Sabasaba town traders to Murang'a County Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha and recorded as case number Mur7815851, they complain of being told to ‘pamper’ Murang'a South Police Station when they fall under Kigumo sub-County.

"We want you to tell Sabasaba police officers who serve Murang'a South to stop their illegal demand of bribes from us. The listed three(3) officers ranking at Inspector, Corporal and a Sergeant (one(1) being a female officer) are demanding Sh1,500 (Sh500 for each) protection money per week from traders especially those with bars hence compelling us to sell outside regulated hours so as to raise the cash," reads the letter in part.

The traders add that the biggest problem is that police and administrators from Kigumo sub-County also patrol the area and demand their share of protection money.

"This situation depicts competition of demand for bribery, a situation that is creating poverty than helping us grow. If we must bribe, for we have traditionally been made to appreciate that it is an evil that must be there, then let it be that we only do so to one(1) set of security instead of this scenario," the electronically transmitted letter adds.

In what has become routine complaints by the residents, another submitted report filed under ref: Mur6397381 Murang'a South and Kigumo officers are reported to be clashing at Kaharate trading centres leaving traders reeling under the burden of over-bribing corrupt officers.

On April 16, 2024, some residents complained to Murang'a South Deputy County Commissioner Gitonga Murungi and Kigumo Police boss Kiprono Tanui that officers were demanding too much bribe.

"Kindly get a way of making it known to OCS Sabasaba that it is known that your officers are going around summoning businessmen to their offices with messages that "uhakikishe umekuja na mbuzi mnono (submit a fat goat)," the complaint reads in part.

The traders added that "kindly let these officers understand that our residents are not pastoralists. It can be understood if they are demanding avocadoes or coffee from us".

Mr Murungi on Sunday told us that "personally I'm not for boundaries politics since all areas with the alleged issues fallunder well know jurisdictions".

Kigumo sub-County Police Commander Kiprono Tanui said "we are all serving the same people and boundaries or lack of them should never be a cause of conflict viewed from the sense that we are one(1) government serving one people in a unitary state".

Bar Hotels and Liquor Traders Association of Kenya (BAHLITA) Chairman Simon Njoroge told AVDelta News that "we have received complaints... I urge victims to compile details of the corrupt officers and demands they make".

He termed the corruption cartel to be isolated cases "that if we make them known by the seniors will be addressed".

Murang'a Senator Joe Nyutu on Sunday told us that he has received complaints from pineapple traders who despite operating mostly in Kandara and Murang'a South sub-counties, they get raided by private guards as well as Ithanga Kakuzi sub-County security officers.

"The excuse given is that some of the pineapples being traded are stolen from nearby American owned Del Monte plantation hence the private guards and security officers serving in Ithanga Kakuzi which hosts the firm," he said.

Mr Nyutu added that traders operating near Thika town usually get harassed by officers from Thika West, Ithanga Kakuzi, and Gatanga officers as well.

"There is nothing bad with security vigilance if the agenda is to enforce rule of law as per the Constitution. But when the officers are flocking business space to demand bribes, then that is something else and it must stop," he said.

The issue has been such a big issue to a point Maragua MP Mary Wamaua has on several occasions stormed some police stations in her constituency demanding fair treatment for her people.

She told us that "nothing has changed in my demand for security integrity...our people must not be harassed through corruption and high-handedness".

"Any officer serving in this area must help promote conducive environment for business to thrive and occupations become rewarding," Ms Wamaua said.

She said security services that seek to make area people poor and frustrated are not welcomed and will not be tolerated.

Mr Nkanatha did not respond to our queries on whether he is aware of the racketeers under him making trading a living hell, if yes what he intends to do to offer integrity relief to the problem and if not aware, what action will follow now that he knows.