Eastleigh residents are being aided by police to break Coronavirus (Covid-19) directives, after Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe banned the movement in and out of the estate, dubbed a Covid-19 hotspot.
On Monday, May 11, in a feature aired by KTN News, police were recorded receiving bribes from boda boda riders, who were allowed to sneak passengers in and out of Eastleigh.
The law enforcers demanded bribes ranging from Ksh 50 to Ksh 100 while putting the lives of other Kenyans at risk by curtailing efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19.
One boda boda rider, disclosed that he had managed to secure over five passengers as they also hiked fares, to ensure maximum profit after sharing it with greedy police officers.
“All I have to do is ask my customer to pay me Ksh 500 and relax as I take them outside Eastleigh. They don’t have to say a word at the roadblocks as I will take care of the officers since I know where to pass and who to talk to,” the rider disclosed.
Truck drivers, listed as essential service providers, are also stranded at roadblocks. The officers reportedly do not allow them in or out, whether they have documents or not, without parting with a few coins.
“For us, drivers, yes, they ask for our documents, but whether you have them or not, you will have to bribe your way in and out of the region,” a truck driver lamented.
Residents also found ways to circumvent the six roadblocks manned by police, as they lamented the extortion by the police.
“If you don’t have the necessary identification documents, you will have to pay them,” one resident added.
Garissa Governor, Ali Korane, on Monday, May 11, raised an alarm over the number of people escaping from Eastleigh, Nairobi to seek shelter in Garissa.
“The cessation of movement for Eastleigh is meant for the good of the people of Eastleigh and the country at large. It is is a crime, escaping and coming here, you can easily bring the disease here and it is a big concern. Those of you who are here, we would like to urge to stay here and not go anywhere, this is something that will end one day and we would like to ask everybody to be vigilant at this time when we have a problem so that we don’t get this disease.
“Let us follow the government’s directives and do not see yourselves as heroes because of escaping Nairobi and coming here. This is a big pandemic,” said Korane.
