The Motorist Association of Kenya (MAK) has called for immediate action to be taken against rogue NPS officers who deploy unchecked excesses, extortion, and brutal intimidation tactics.
In a statement released on Monday, June 30, 2025, MAK has expressed its outrage at the tactics used by the lawless officers to humiliate and rob hardworking citizens who have had to remain silent, with senior police officials reported to be involved in the crimes.
NPS as a Predatory Enterprise
“What was meant to be a service to protect life and uphold order on our roads has degenerated into a predatory enterprise that haunts ordinary motorists like a shadowy extortion cartel,” MAK stated.
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According to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), motorists in Kenya are losing a staggering Ksh3 billion every month to extortion by traffic police.
The Ksh3 billion shillings are stolen by the rogue police through roadside shake downs, fake charges, and mandatory cash bail scams.
MAK insists that this is not law enforcement, but a serious case of systemic robbery in official police uniforms.
The stories reported to MAK by motorists are horrifying, with false speed limits planted to trap innocent drivers. Matatu operators are asked to pay “protection fees” or face arbitrary arrests.
“Officers are lurking on feeder roads like hunters waiting for prey, not to serve, but to pounce. These are rogue elements within the National Police Service under the guise of traffic enforcement. Let that sink in,” MAK lamented.
Shameful Death
MAK has also brought to light the issue of senior officers who have abandoned official police vehicles and now cruise in high-end personal machines, fuelled by illicit money, to intimidate and chase down motorists.
“The tragic and shameful death of Narok Traffic Base Commander Kipchumba Rotich, who fatally crashed his state-of-the-art Toyota Prado during a high-speed chase this past weekend, is a grim reminder of how distorted the traffic enforcement mission has become. Since when did policing traffic become a Hollywood-style pursuit mission?” the statement said.
MAK Demands
MAK has called for a thorough audit of all traffic police operations by NPS, focusing on the collection and handling of cash bail and fines to uncover corruption and misuse of funds.
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They have also proposed establishing a task force led by civilian oversight bodies and independent prosecutors to investigate “extortion cartels” within the NPS, operating free of police interference with full legal authority.
MAK demands full protection for whistleblowers within the police force who are willing to expose corrupt practices, emphasizing that reform efforts will fail without safeguarding internal accountability.
In response to specific incidents, such as the unannounced lockdown of Nairobi’s Central Business District on June 25, 2025, MAK demanded the immediate reopening of all access routes and a return to lawful, structured traffic control mechanisms that respect constitutional rights, particularly freedom of movement under Article 39.
Finally, MAK has criticized proposed mandatory vehicle inspections under the Traffic (Motor Vehicle Inspection) Rules 2025, arguing they could create opportunities for corrupt officials to harass and extort citizens, placing an additional financial burden on motorists.
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