The traffic police road block that was at the Nakuru Eveready roundabout has not been there for the past four days. This follows the road crash that claimed seven lives on December 31,2023.

At the time of the horrific road crash, eye witnesses blamed the police officers manning the road block for the crash.

Those who spoke to Mtaa Wangu said the officers insisted on allegedly soliciting a bribe from the matatu driver, instead of warning the driver of the oncoming trailer that had lost its breaks.

Read: Nakuru Eveready road crash claims seven lives, leaves 12 injured

According to Miriam Nyawira, one of the first responders, the road crash occurred when the matatu was stopped by the police in the middle of the road.

“I think the matatu driver did not hear the hooting because he was talking to the police. Unfortunately, the trailer rammed over the matatu before stopping in a ditch on the side of the road,” Ms Nyawira said.

The Eveready roundabout in Nakuru city.

Photo credit: BRET SANYA/MTAA WANGU

A spot check by Mtaa Wangu on Tuesday morning established that there was no presence of officers manning the road block as opposed to the past months.

Speaking to Dorothy Mboya the Nakuru traffic police enforcement officer, she confirmed that the officers were pulled from the road block due to what she termed as ‘working on a schedule’.

“The reason for that is because we are still working on a schedule. We will post the officers once we are done sorting out the issues of scheduling and other matters,” she said.

It is however believed that the uproar by residents is what had led to removal of the road block.

Watch: Nakuru Residents blame traffic police for Eveready road crash

However, speaking to Francis Wahome, the Nakuru Town West OCPD, he refutes these claims saying police work and operations cannot be stalled because people claim that the police allegedly take bribes.

“Police work will always be done as it should and there is nothing that can deter us from performing our mandate,” he said.

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