Police Stop Effecting Uhuru's Directive

An undated image of police sealing off a road in Nairobi during a past raid
An undated image of police sealing off a road in Nairobi during a past raid.

The government has stopped the ongoing countrywide crackdown on boda boda operators.

In a statement released on Saturday, March 12, the National Police Service (NPS) stated that it was stopping the enforcement of President Uhuru Kenyatta's directive with immediate effect.

The police service noted that the decision will allow for more consultations between the government and the riders, adding that the consultations will outline the crackdown procedures.

An image of boda boda riders
Boda Boda operators wait for customers at a stage.
Capital Group

"Enforcement of compliance of traffic law by public transport motor cycles aka Boda boda crackdown has been stopped. This is to give room to government to reorganize the sector through a multi sectoral committee working on a framework of implementation," police stated.

However, the ban on boda bodas operating in Nairobi's Central Business District will remain in place.

"The ban on boda bodas operating within the Nairobi CBD remains strictly in force. All boda bodas operators and riders are advised to comply with all requirements in due course," the police stated.

This comes just days after the Ministry of Interior led by Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang'i, outlined measures to guide the operation of boda bodas in the country.

Matiang'i announced a waiver on registration fees for boda boda operators in what he termed as an incentive to have them operate under an umbrella body for easy regulation.

"President Uhuru Kenyatta has waived all that fees, you will be registered for free. NTSA will not ask for Ksh5,000, the President has said free registration," Matiang'i stated.

"This will enable them to get licenses so that the government can identify every rider with their area of operation."

The CS noted that the operation will be overseen by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and riders issued with smart driving licenses.

"From March 21, in every one of our 52 Huduma Centers across the country, we will begin the registration exercise where they will be required to fill a form and after registration, they will be given smart riders license," Matiang'i announced.

Stopping the crackdown also follows concerns raised by different political leaders and stakeholders in the boda boda sector. The former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, also voiced his opinion urging the police to implement it with decorum with crippling the entire sector.

"Such an act must be condemned right? That perpetrator's act was horrific. But that should not be misconstrued as the actions of all boda boda riders. Some are noble people who do a good job of ferrying passengers.

"I want them to be helped streamline their business. When one person commits a crime, he or she should be arrested alone and punished. Not all people in the business are criminals," stated the ODM leader.

Police officers at an accident scene involving a car and a motorbike at the Kanisa road roundabout in Nyeri on July 11, 2011.
Police officers at an accident scene involving a car and a motorbike at the Kanisa Road roundabout in Nyeri on July 11, 2011.
Daily Nation

 

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