NAIROBI, Kenya – A public service vehicle (PSV) driver has sparked fresh debate over alleged corruption involving Nairobi County enforcement officers, popularly known as kanjo askaris, after claiming they demand bribes based on how many officers are involved in an arrest.

The driver’s emotional account, shared in a viral interview, has resonated with many Nairobi residents and matatu operators who say such encounters have become an everyday reality in the city.

“I’d rather be arrested by 100 police officers than by two kanjo askaris,” the driver said.

“When police stop you, they explain the offence you committed. But when kanjo officers arrest you, they call their colleagues until four or more of them are standing around your vehicle.”

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According to the driver, the officers then allegedly expect payment from the crew based on the number of askaris present.

“They tell you to count how many of them are there and pay accordingly,” he claimed.

The driver further alleged that the money demanded by the officers sometimes exceeds what the vehicle earns after a full day’s work.

“Sometimes what they take from us is even more than the day’s collection,” he lamented.

Officer responds

To verify the allegations, Metros spoke to one Nairobi County enforcement officer who agreed to comment only on condition of anonymity.

The officer declined to appear on camera, saying doing so could see him branded a traitor by colleagues.

While acknowledging that the matatu sector presents significant enforcement challenges, he argued that corruption cannot be blamed solely on county officers.

“The matatu industry in the city is very chaotic,” the officer said.

“A matatu can commit a genuine offence, but once it is stopped, the crew immediately offers money because they don’t want to be taken to the county offices. They tell us we’re wasting their time and ask us to accept a bribe so they can continue working.”

The officer maintained that both enforcement officers and public transport crews contribute to the problem.

“The blame goes both ways,” he added.

Mixed reactions online

The contrasting accounts have reignited conversations on social media about corruption within Nairobi’s public transport sector.

Some Kenyans sympathised with PSV crews, saying alleged unofficial payments have become an accepted cost of operating within the CBD.

Others argued that drivers and conductors who choose to pay bribes instead of following legal procedures also help sustain the cycle of corruption.

The debate comes amid ongoing efforts by authorities to improve discipline within Nairobi’s transport sector while addressing corruption in public service.

Neither the driver’s allegations nor the officer’s claims have been independently verified by Metros, and Nairobi County had not issued an official response regarding the specific allegations at the time of publication.