The National Police Service (NPS) has dispelled reports making rounds on social media that it is set to conduct a major crackdown on four major roads in Nairobi on Thursday, March 10, with an intention of taming rogue boda boda operators.
The post, which was shared on several social networking sites, claimed that the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) officers would be deployed on the said roads to conduct the operation.
The post further indicated that the targeted roads were Waiyaki Way, Thika Super Highway, Ngong Road and Mombasa Road.
But a spot check by Kenyans.co.ke established that the post was fake and misleading.
Police also clarified that the report did not emanate from them, urging members of public to treat the post with the contempt it deserves.
"This information circulating on social media should be ignored by the public with contempt," the police noted.
On Tuesday, March 8, while leading the commemoration of the International Women's Day, President Uhuru Kenyatta, ordered a major crackdown on boda boda operators. He noted that the exercise would start in Nairobi and extend to other parts of the country.
The Head of State did not specifically single out any of the roads on the mentioned on the social media post.
"A boda boda is not a licence to strip a woman and remove her dignity. There should never be a repeat of what happened on Friday. This is a blight on the whole Kenyan society," the President stated.
"We want to support the boda boda business but our efforts should not make them believe that they can do drive-by shootings. We will re-register all boda bodas. Those who want to politicise this let them go ahead and do that," he added.
On the other hand, KDF has not issued any statement on the same post.
The operation that is currently taking place countrywide followed an incident where a female motorist was assaulted along the Wangari Mathari Road on Friday, March 4.
So far, 16 suspects have been apprehended in connection to the incident. The government has also issued a number of directives to reform the boda boda sector in the country.
