A matatu on the Litein–Kericho route crashed near Litein in Kericho County on Tuesday, leaving several people injured under alarming circumstances.

Preliminary reports indicate the accident was triggered by a traffic officer who allegedly jumped into the moving vehicle while demanding a bribe, prompting the driver to speed off in an attempt to evade him.

According to witnesses, the driver veered off the road after realising the officer was inside, leading to a scuffle during which the officer is said to have strangled him.

The 14-seater matatu then slammed into a tree. The injured passengers were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Photos of the crash obtained by Viral Tea reveal the Nakuru Line matatu’s front end was severely mangled after hitting the tree.

The Motorist Association of Kenya (MAK) condemned the conduct of the police, raising concerns over the tactics employed.

 “What type of enforcement is this? Reports state that: A traffic police officer in Litein jumped into a moving matatu vehicle that refused to stop to give out handouts as usual and started strangling the driver, and in the process, the vehicle lost control and hit a tree; casualties were reported,” the Association questioned.

This is not the first time police officers have been implicated in soliciting bribes from drivers, a problem that continues to plague Kenyan roads.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has been actively probing such cases, underscoring the scale of the issue.

In a recent operation, the agency arrested several officers in the Rift Valley, including two in Litein — a notorious bribe collection point along the Sotik–Kericho road. The arrests came after numerous complaints from motorists about extortion by traffic police.

The EACC has repeatedly warned that this corruption not only undermines road safety but also fuels accidents on major highways by allowing unroadworthy vehicles to operate in exchange for bribes.

A recent report by the EACC indicated that the National Police Service remains one of the most corrupt institutions in the country, with traffic officers singled out as major offenders.