Taxi drivers in Nairobi have lamented the return of widespread harassment by police officers stationed at Wilson Airport.
According to the drivers, the police officers stationed at the entrance demand bribes from them and frequently find faults in their vehicles as an excuse to solicit bribes.
This has led to frustration and anger among taxi drivers who feel they are being unfairly targeted.
The drivers have resorted to directing customers to cancel their rides and walk from the nearby Shell Petrol Station instead of risking getting caught up in the cesspool of corruption.
Two @uber drivers have told me they don’t enter Wilson Airport because of police harassment and asked me to cancel if I wouldn’t walk to the shell petrol station. Reputation problem. @KenyaAirports @NPSOfficial_KE (don’t know if the IG is on Twitter). Also
— Al Kags (@alkags) February 20, 2023
Even small private cars are not spared from harassment, which has led to difficulties in accessing the airport.
Those who work there say that even getting normal deliveries is a hustle.
All drivers refuse to bring them to the office, asking recipients to walk all the way from within the Wilson Airport zone to pick up their delivery at the Shell Petrol Station located metres away.
The situation has been ongoing for years, with complaints dating back to 2018.
Despite the transfer of police officers, the problem persists, leading some to speculate about the possibility of protectionism, where only taxis owned by the police are allowed to operate in the area.
The issue is particularly concerning as it is causing a reputation problem for Wilson Airport, which is a major transportation hub for Nairobi.
The harassment experienced by taxi operators at Wilson Airport is even higher than at the larger Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
The taxi drivers are calling for urgent action to address the situation, and for authorities to hold police officers accountable for their actions.
It is not just the drivers who are suffering, but also customers and businesses that rely on Wilson Airport for transportation and deliveries.
These greedy cops should not be allowed to get away with their shenanigans any longer.
