Protests Erupt as Boda Boda Riders Block Busy Highway [VIDEO]

Protesters pictured on the Eastern bypass following an accident that killed 8 pedestrians on October 11, 2019.
Protesters pictured on the Eastern bypass following an accident that killed 8 pedestrians on October 11, 2019.
File

There was chaos on Sunday, December 27 as boda boda riders held protests blocking the Nairobi-Namanga highway in Kitengela town.

Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Daniel Muiruri one of the leaders of Kitengela Boda Boda Sacco stated that they held the protests after one of their riders was killed in a morning accident.

"The driver of the vehicle appeared to be drunk and he caused the death of the rider. The boda boda rider had a passenger who was injured in the crash," he stated.

Watch the video below:

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Airing their grievances with the situation the riders, blocked the busy road with huge stones and burnt tyres preventing access by other motorists.

Scores were injured as boda boda riders engaged the police at Kitengela town.

The confrontation is reported to have taken more than five hours with firefighters deployed to put out the bonfires lit by the boda boda riders.

Motorists were advised to use alternative routes to avoid being caught up in the melee.

A recent report released by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) noted that motorcyclists accounted for the highest percentage of fatalities in road accidents.

Out of the statistics that were recorded between December 13 and December 22, five were drivers, 31 passengers, 14 pillion passengers, two-pedal cyclists while 40 were motorcyclists.

The government agency cited drunk driving, overloading, speeding, driver fatigue, use of unroadworthy vehicles and dangerous overtaking as some of the factors contributing to the accidents.

Though the boda boda industry offers employment to a number of people, it still is poorly regulated. Apart from causing road accidents, the National Crime Research Centre, stated that bodaboda riders have been blamed for increased robberies, causing death by dangerous riding, breach of public order and smuggling of illegal goods in the country.

To counter the vice, new technology was unveiled to tame the bodaboda industry with over 7,000 motorbikes adopting the application in Ruiru, Kiambu County.

The bodabodas have been fitted with digital number plates that will enable the government to efficiently regulate the sector that has been growing over the years.

The technology uses a bar code which when scanned, provides the name, the stage, phone number, the ward and the number of the stage chairman.

File image of boda bodas.
File image of boda bodas.
(COURTESY)

 

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