A matatu travelling the Litein-Kericho route was involved in a crash near Litein, Kericho County, resulting in multiple casualties on Tuesday, under disturbing circumstances.
The initial report suggests the accident was caused by a traffic officer who, demanding a bribe, jumped into the moving vehicle as the driver attempted to escape.
Once the driver realised the officer was inside, he allegedly drove off-road, and a scuffle ensued, with the officer said to have strangled the driver before the 14-seater matatu crashed into a tree.
Several people were injured in the crash and have been taken to a nearby medical facility for treatment.
Images of the crash, obtained by Kenyans.co.ke, show that the front of the Nakuru Line matatu was mangled after it rammed the tree.
The Motorist Association of Kenya (MAK) condemned the police's behaviour, questioning the tactics used.
"What type of enforcement is this? Reports state that: A traffic police officer in Litein jumped into a moving matatu vehicle that refused to stop to give out handouts as usual and started strangling the driver, and in the process, the vehicle lost control and hit a tree; casualties were reported," the Association questioned.
This incident is not the first incident where police officers have been involved in asking for bribes from drivers, adding to the persistent problem on Kenyan roads.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has been actively investigating cases of police bribery, highlighting the extent of the issue.
In a recent incident, EACC arrested several officers in the Rift Valley region, including two in Litein, a well-known spot for bribe collection on the Sotik-Kericho road.
The arrest followed numerous complaints from motorists about being extorted by traffic police. EACC has consistently warned that such corruption undermines road safety and significantly contributes to accidents on major highways, as it enables unroadworthy vehicles to operate in exchange for bribes.
According to a recent report by EACC, the National Police Service remains one of the most corrupt institutions in the country, particularly among traffic officers.
