January 8, 2025 – Allegations of corruption have rocked Makongeni Police Station and court number 8 in a case involving two Public Service Vehicle (PSV) drivers arrested for minor traffic offenses. Mr. Hudson Njoroge of City Shuttle and Mr. Daniel Ouma of Oma Services Limited were arrested on January 3, 2025, along Jogoo Road for obstruction and picking up passengers on the road. Both were arraigned in court on January 6, 2025, and denied cash bail, instead being required to post a bond of Ksh 50,000 with surety.
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The bond requirement has been criticized as punitive and excessive, given that the maximum penalties under the Traffic (Minor Offenses) Rules for obstruction and picking passengers on the road are Ksh 10,000 and Ksh 3,000, respectively. A bond requires substantial collateral, such as a car logbook or title deed, authenticated by the court, making it difficult for many accused individuals to comply. Consequently, both drivers were remanded at Industrial Area Prison as they failed to meet the bond conditions.
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On January 6, 2025, Oma Services Limited appealed to the court to reconsider and allow cash bail for their driver. However, the request was denied, and a mention date was set for January 15, 2025. Meanwhile, Mr. Ouma remains in custody.
In a twist, Jogoo Road Matatu operators allege a corruption syndicate involving the magistrate of court number 8, court clerk Mr. Amin, and traffic officer Madam Naomi, who oversees case registration at Makongeni Police Station. The operators claim that Madam Naomi, who has allegedly overstayed at her post, wields significant influence and is an agent of corruption, acting in collusion with court officials to extort bribes from accused individuals.
The claims intensified on January 7, 2025, when it was reported that Mr. Njoroge was asked to pay a bribe of Ksh 25,000, along with a cash bail of Ksh 5,000, to secure his release. Allegedly, this amount was handed to court clerk Mr. Amin, and Mr. Njoroge was subsequently released. In contrast, Mr. Ouma remains behind bars, unable to meet the bond conditions or secure similar “assistance.”
The operators accuse the syndicate of targeting Matatu drivers who refuse to pay bribes, ensuring they face harsh penalties and prolonged detention. They are calling for immediate investigations into the conduct of the magistrate, court clerk, and traffic officer Naomi. The situation has underscored broader concerns about corruption within Kenya’s judicial system.
These allegations were highlighted by activist Boniface Mwangi in a Facebook post, drawing widespread attention. The post has amplified calls for transparency and accountability.
These developments come at a time when senior counsels are calling for the resignation of the Chief Justice, citing unprecedented levels of corruption within the judiciary. “The system has never been this compromised,” one senior counsel remarked.
The situation has sparked outrage among PSV operators and the public, with many demanding urgent reforms and accountability. Efforts to obtain comments from Makongeni Police Station, the judiciary, and the accused court officials were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
