The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has dismissed reports that its detectives raided the home of Nairobi Regional Traffic Commandant Joseph Chirchir and recovered millions of shillings.
In a statement, the commission labelled as fake a graphic circulating on social media alleging that officers had conducted a raid at Chirchir’s residence.
The viral post claimed that EACC recovered Ksh2.5 billion from the senior police officer’s home.
However, the commission did not clarify or provide an update on whether the officer has been the subject of any active investigation.
The commission has in the past used warrants issued by the courts to raid homes of senior government officials linked to graft.
This comes after the police on May 19 raided the homes of Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya over claims of corruption.
The early morning operation was led by heavily equipped anti-riot police officers, working in coordination with officials from the EACC.
In Nairobi, the last major operation to be carried targeting the traffic police was in February this year, when the detectives from the commission nabbed traffic police officers in the city for allegedly collecting bribes.
The officers were apprehended near Moi Avenue Primary and Junior School in Nairobi’s central business district (CBD).
Images and videos seen by Kenyans.co.ke captured EACC detectives, dressed in plain clothes, arriving at the scene, prompting the two traffic officers to flee.
However, their attempt to outrun the detectives proved futile, as they were swiftly cornered. One officer was pinned to the ground near a crowd barrier and immediately handcuffed.
On March 27, detectives from the commission apprehended five police officers who were caught soliciting bribes from motorists plying the Kakamega-Bungoma Road in Mumias, Kakamega County.
According to EACC, the officers were nabbed following numerous complaints of extorting money from motorists under the guise of traffic law enforcement without conducting any checks on the vehicles.
During the apprehension, there was a dramatic scene when one of the officers, upon realising that the detectives were on their hot pursuit, attempted to stage an escape using a motorcycle.
However, the motorcyclists who had gathered at the scene in support of the EACC operation refused to transport him, ending his escape prematurely.
