Kenya: Handling Police Roadblocks

By Larry Habegger | Permalink | No Comments | October 3rd, 2006 | Trackback

Kenya has its share of police corruption, and one of the challenges for travelers is knowing what to do when confronted with a roadblock. Most of the time they are legitimate, but sometimes they are set up by criminals posing as police. At legitimate roadblocks, police will issue a “cash bill” if they accuse you of an infraction. Kenyan law does not permit collecting fines at roadblocks, and the “cash bill” acts as bail to assure that you appear in court, where the bill is fully refundable, providing you have a receipt. Always cooperate with police at roadblocks and be sure to appear in court if requested. If you encounter problems at a roadblock, ask for the person in charge, and ask for the badge number of any officer you do not trust. Police are required by law to provide badge numbers to anyone who asks for them. If you feel you are at an illegitimate roadblock, the best way to guarantee your safety is to cooperate, and sometimes you can get away unscathed if you claim you have no money and need to call the U.S. Embassy or some authority figure to bring it to you.

Home » Africa, Kenya, Scams/Crime, Security issues

If you found "Kenya: Handling Police Roadblocks" useful or interesting, please share it with others by bookmarking it at any of the following sites: