West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo on Wednesday disrupted business along Kitale-Lodwar highway to protest the arrest of a boda boda operator.
A roadblock had been erected along the highway as part of the ongoing 'Michuki Rules' crackdown in which the boda boda operator had been apprehended and beaten up by the police.
Condemning the attack, the Governor asked Interior CS Fred Matiang’i and Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet to train their officers afresh on how to work.
He also accused the police officers of soliciting Kshs1,000 bribe from each motorcycle in the county.
"Don't condemn my people, they are not criminals," stated the Governor, "West Pokot is a very peculiar county... Some rules manufactured and created in Nairobi, very far away from West Pokot, don’t recur to the nature of the people here."
"The Askaris (Police) in their stupid manner come with a lot of roadblocks... so Boinnet and Matiangi... if you are listening to me, come and train your people again how to work for the people of Kenya," he continued.
He further praised the youth from his jurisdiction claiming that they are now reformed and have even ventured on their own pursuits to make livelihoods.
"A number of my young men for many years were engaged in malpractices like cattle rustling and they are now reformed.
"They have gone to do productive things for themselves, they are running Pikipiki (motorcycles)... and Proboxes (taxis)," he added.
More than 40,000 cases of motorists flouting the rules have been reported since the crackdown began in early November.
Matiang’i had vowed to continue with the crackdown until sanity is restored on the roads.
Here is the video courtesy of Nation Media.
