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Tackles graft head-on

Nairobi: The traffic officers must have licked their lips when they saw the easy pickings approaching — a luxury grey Toyota Land Cruiser with U.N. number plates. In time-honoured fashion, one of the officers stepped into the road on the outskirts of Nairobi, flagged down the vehicle, informed the driver that he had been speeding and confiscated his licence and car keys. The driver and passenger would be free to go only if they paid bail of £22 and kitu kidogo, ``a little something'' of £7. There was only one problem. The passenger was Colin Bruce, head of the World Bank in Kenya and an outspoken critic of the corruption that continues to bedevil the country. Mr. Bruce denied that his car was travelling over the 50mph speed limit and asked the officers to produce evidence. When they refused and threatened to tow the vehicle way, Mr. Bruce used his mobile phone to call Aaron Ringera, head of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission. A team rushed to the scene and ordered the officers to return the licence and car keys. Several other motorists who had refused to pay ``bail'' were also given their keys back. —

© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006

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