Deputy Inspector General-Kenya Police Service Mirriam Muli directed all traffic police officers to refrain from carrying firearms while on duty. This decision was made in response to recent incidents of misuse of firearms by traffic police officers.
Muli said in a letter that, “It has been noted with great concern that officers actively engaged in traffic duties are armed (carrying firearms). This has led to misuse of firearms by the officers.”
Traffic commanders have been instructed to ensure that the new directive is strictly followed. The order explicitly states, “From today 30 November 2023 (r) 30/11/2023, no officer actively on traffic duty will carry a firearm (r) no officer actively on traffic duty will carry a firearm.”
This policy change comes shortly after an incident in Nakuru where traffic police officers opened fire on officials from the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) who had come to arrest them for taking bribes.
EACC chief executive Twalib Mbarak said one of his commissioners narrowly escaped being shot by the traffic officer while on duty.
“During the incident, one of the suspects opened fire on the EACC officers but no one was injured in the exchange of fire. The three officers were eventually overpowered and taken into custody,” Mbarak said.
