Journalists in trouble over corrupt police photos

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Traffic police officers conducting a vehicle inspection. Photo/FILE 

By SAMUEL KARANJA samkache@gmail.com
Posted  Tuesday, July 2  2013 at  17:41

Two freelance journalists were arrested for taking photographs of traffic police allegedly receiving bribes from motorists in Murang'a County.

Mr Anthony Kigondu and Mr Alvin Sambu said residents had complained of rampant corruption among traffic officers and they decided to investigate.

According to Mr Sambu, they began taking photos of officers receiving bribes from Sunday but were arrested on Tuesday.

Delete the photos

“We had taken several pictures of officers on the Sagana-Murang’a road and later proceeded to Murang’a-Kahuro road where we were arrested, it seems the Sagna officers alerted their colleagues who apprehended us,” said Mr Sambu.

They were however forced to delete the photos and later taken to Murang’a North police offices for questioning.

Police boss Christopher Mshimba, Traffic commander Silas Andiema and CID boss Bernard Okello are said to have questioned the two journalists and later released them.

Extort money

“We have some people who take photos of officers only to use them to blackmail them and extort money from them so that was what we were preventing,” said Mr Mshimba.

He however said he had not received any complaint that his officers were taking bribes from motorists.

The journalists, from Nairobi, said two of their colleagues managed to escape with the vehicle they were using.