Hundreds of boda boda operators were yesterday arrested in a nationwide crackdown ordered by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday.

A spot check by People Daily in various counties established that scores of riders were nabbed and their motorcycles impounded, in compliance with the President’s directive.

 The President issued the order following Friday’s incident where a group of suspected boda boda riders were filmed attacking and assaulting a female motorist in Nairobi.

Sixteen riders were arrested and charged in a Nairobi court yesterday in connection with the incident which sparked an uproar among Kenyans.

Rogue riders

In Homa Bay county, more than 50 boda boda operators were arrested in the operation meant to weed out rogue riders.

County Commissioner Moses Lilan said the riders were arrested across the various sub-counties with different offences including not wearing helmet, reflector jackets, carrying more than one passenger, having worn out tires and lack of side mirrors.

Lilan said those apprehended will be arraigned to face charges for the offences. He noted that the crackdown will be intensified today.

In Kisumu, about 120 motorcycles were impounded even as the crackdown continued across the county.

And in Mombasa county, over 50 riders were arrested and their motorcycles impounded.

Area police commander Joseph Ongaya said the operation majorly focused on the town centre and will extend to other regiions.

He said the crackdown will today shift to Kisauni, Changamwe, Nyali, Likoni and Jomvu areas.

“There is nothing to be afraid of if you have all the requirements. This is just a normal crackdown which will look into issues like lack of license, helmet and carrying more than one passenger,” he said.

He added that police officers would intensify the crackdown at night, when most boda boda riders are expected to resume work due to fear of the ongoing crackdown during day time.

The crackdown came as boda bora riders in the county lauded President Kenyatta’s directive on the crackdown.

The riders through the Mombasa County Boda Boda Association chairman Samuel Ogutu, said the move would ensure sanity in the sector.

“We highly welcome the crack down on the rogue bodaboda riders amongst us ,but the move should not be used by police as a means to mint money from us,”said Ogutu.

In Kiambu County, several riders were arrested and their motor bikes impounded in a crackdown on illegal boda boda operators in Juja.

Fearing the operation led by sub county traffic police commander George Muriithi, hundreds of the riders fled from their areas of operation.

Muriithi said those arrested will appear in court today.

In Bomet County, the crackdown kicked off at a slow start.

County police commander Esther Seroney cited the KCPE examination which was ongoing as the reason behind the slow start.

Change tack

In Kakamega County, the exercise failed to take off yesterday despite many of the operators keeping off the roads, due to fear that they would be arrested.

Security officers patrolled the main roads and markets which were, however, deserted by the riders.

“Most of  them have decided to stay at home or use routes that do not have police road blocks. But we will change tack,” said Kakamega East police boss Robert Makau.

Boda boda stages in Kakamega town, Khayega, Shinyalu, Shamusinjiri, Malinya, Lubao, Mumias, Shianda, Makunga, among others, were deserted.

Similarly, the crackdown did not take off in Kisii county. Security officers in Kisii Central said the exercise would start later this week.

—Reporting by Noven Owiti, Sophie Njoka, Dennis Lumiti, Robert Ochoro, Oliver Musembi and Felix Yegon