Boda Boda operators have been urged to be patriotic and ambassadors of peace by identifying and reporting any criminal elements among themselves.

Livestock Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai said the operators interact with many people daily, hence they have the capacity of becoming agents of peace.

He was speaking at the weekend while monitoring progress of the ongoing national registration exercise of boda boda riders at the Baringo Huduma Centre.

PS called on the riders to make it a habit of forwarding any suspicious leads likely to bring instability around their duty stations.

“If you identify any suspicious happenings, do not keep quiet, instead make a prompt report to the police or other relevant authorities so that it can be investigated at once,” he said.

Kimtai assured the operators of confidentiality while forwarding such reports to police, saying it will solve some security challenges in the society, since the security personnel across the country are not enough to safeguard each person.

He encouraged boda boda chairpersons to collaborate with other sectors for them to achieve meaningful success. At the same time, the PS called on all operators across the seven sub-counties to register in masses during the 60-day period to avoid future inconveniences.

“National government has waived the registration cost for all boda boda operators countrywide by around Sh11,800 that they would have paid on a normal occasion,” he said.

PS warned that those who will not have registered by the end of the period will face it rough, as they will be apprehended for lacking crucial certification like driving licenses and insurance covers. 

Baringo County Commissioner Abdirisack Jaldesa said his office will work closely with the operators, especially their leaders in supporting the local security system.

Jaldesa noted that plans were on course to bring on board National Youth Service to support in training of some of the operators, who lack the requisite training before acquiring the smart driving license.

Baringo Deputy Governor Jacob Chepkwony called for decentralisation of the registration exercise to benefit more operators at the grassroots who are yet to be reached.