Three police officers were knocked down by a speeding motorist on Tuesday night on Emali-Loitokitok road. The three police officers were manning a “roadblock” about 14 kilometers from Emali town during the 9 pm grissy accident that left the officers dead on the spot, highlighting once again the dangers faced by traffic police officers.
A witness said the motorist is a foreigner and was not aware of the police roadblock. The motorist was driving from Loitokitok side. The officers were attached to Mashuuru police division.
A senior police officer who sought anonymity told the Star the roadblock is not gazetted. It is not clear why the three officers have erected the roadblock. It is over 90 kilometers away from Mashuuru divisional police headquarters.
“The Mashuuru OCPD has been cautioned severally against erecting the roadblock. The three traffic police officers at the roadblock cover almost 52 kilometers from Mashuuru to Sultan Hamud. Another 25 kilometers from Sultan Hamud to Emali and about 14 kilometers from Emali to the scene of accident,” the source said.
The roadblock is jointly crewed by both regular and administration police. A source told the Star that hunger for bribes has motivated the illegal roadblock. Mashuuru police boss (SP) Gregory Muganda did not reply to a text message sent to him Tuesday night.
Deputy Inspector General of police Grace Kaindi denied that the officers were manning a roadblock. She added that the officers were killed when a car “rammed into their house.”
“The officers were not manning a roadblock. They were in their house when a motorist lost control and rammed into the officers’ house,” Kaindi said. There is however no police line in that particular area where the accident occurred.
Motorists and passengers have been complaining of harassment by the three police officers manning the roadblock. A witness said the officers demand that passengers produce their national identity cards once at the roadblock or a Sh2000 “fine.”
A senior police officer who asked not to be named said the officers at the roadblock have no authority to demand for identification documents. This is without the presence of immigration officials.
“It is a mere tactic to extort passengers,” the police officer said. Last month when the Star contacted Muganda about the roadblock he said, “Kama unataka futa askari wote.” (You can sack all the officers if you want), Muganda said on phone.
