“ The police are the most corrupt institution in Kenya », This is the conclusion delivered by the former Kenyan Minister of Justice, David Maraga. In November 2023, he gave President William Ruto a report on the state of Kenyan policing. This document leaked this week to the local press and its revelations are damning.
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With our correspondent in Nairobi, Gaëlle Laleix
In 2022, the Anti-Corruption Commission will seize property worth 27 million shillings, or nearly 190,000 euros. Their owner, Inspector General Gabriel Mulei, accumulated them over three years while he was a traffic policeman in Kiambu County, north of Nairobi. However, his salary only amounted to 20,000 shillings per month, or around 140 euros.
David Maraga’s report is full of stories like this. The former Minister of Justice points out the traffic department as the most corrupt of the police. From bribes demanded of motorists, to active participation in the trafficking of illicit goods.
It’s a whole system of extortion that the report brings to light and which benefits even the highest ranking officers, “ each officer entitled to his share “, explains the report.
It is at the very roots of the police that corruption finds its way, according to David Maraga. “ Favoritism, clientelism and nepotism » govern recruitments which mainly benefit relatives of parliamentarians. According to the report, some would have paid up to 600,000 shillings, or more than 4,000 euros, to join the ranks of the police.
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