Hundreds of boda boda operators were arrested yesterday as the countrywide crackdown on the sector entered day three.

Operators in the counties called on the government to be lenient with them, saying they were law-abiding.

Police stations in various parts of the country had hundreds of motorcycles impounded during the crackdown, creating a parking crisis.

Others abandoned their motorbikes on the streets and took to their heels to avoid arrest. 

Police commanders interviewed by People Daily said the riders were arrested for various offences, including operating without the requisite licences, overloading, riding without helmets and using unroadworthy motorcycles.

The operation was rolled out after a group of riders were captured on video harassing a female motorist on Wangari Maathai Road in Nairobi last Friday.

Following a directive by President Uhuru Kenyatta, more than 400 motorbikes have been seized by officers from the Nairobi Central Police Station.

Area sub-county Police Commander David Mburukua said more than 50 operators had been taken to the court and fined Sh35,000 each.

“We have arrested more than 50 riders for obstruction and their bikes will be detained until necessary documents are produced,” said Mburukua.

Bernard Okwiri, a boda boda rider in Nairobi CBD, lamented that life had become difficult following the crackdown.

“It is now difficult to get customers. And if we do, we have to charge more,” said Okwiri, adding that he was considering packing his motorbike at home until the situation returns to normal.

In Kisumu, Police Training College compound was packed with hundreds of impounded motorbikes as the crackdown intensified in the lakeside county.

About 220 motorcycles were impounded yesterday alone, adding to the over 130 that were confiscated on Wednesday.

Nyanza Regional Traffic boss Mwangi Ng’anga told People Daily that more than 60 boda boda riders were charged with various offences including failure to wear helmets, reflector jackets and lack of valid driving licence.

Riding gear

In Mombasa, officers extended the crackdown on rogue boda boda riders beyond the CBD, netting more than 35 riders and confiscating 46 motorbikes.

The number adds to at least 85 riders who have so far been arrested and 96 motorbikes confiscated after more than 50 riders were arrested and their motorcycles impounded in the town on Wednesday.

County Commander Stephen Matu said 29 of those arrested were arraigned yesterday. “Today we had 29 suspects arraigned over several traffic offences. We are in the process of preparing the remaining ones for arraignment,” Matu said.

The crackdown focused on traffic offenses like lack of license and riding gear and carrying excess passengers.

According to Matu, most of the riders went into hiding to avoid the crackdown.

“Some of them have escaped and left their motorbikes. In such a case we are forced to confiscate the motorbikes and look for the owners,” explained Matu.

In Nakuru county, police said a total of 62 motorcycles have been impounded and at least 30 operators arrested in Nakuru Town East sub-county since the crackdown began.

Area police commander Ellena Kabukuru said they impounded 34 motorcycles yesterday. Kabukuru said those arrested did not have licenses, insurance and safety gears like helmets and reflectors.

In the North Rift, police stepped up the crackdown on the operators in the various counties. A spot-check in the region revealed that many operators stayed away for fear of being arrested.

At Iten town in Elgeyo-Marakwet County, police had to fire in the air to scare away boda boda operators who resisted police attempts to impound their motorbikes. 

The operators complained of being harassed by the security personnel yet the incident “happened far away in Nairobi.” 

“Many of us are doing a genuine business to feed our families and we should not be victimised,” said John Simiyu.

The Eldoret Central Police station could not accommodate the high number of motorbikes impounded forcing the officers to lock them outside the stations under police watch. 

Uasin-Gishu County Commissioner John Kihara said the officers will not rest until all boda boda operators are registered anew.

“We know the sector has employed many Kenyans but they have to operate in an orderly manner,” he said.

In Kisii town, 13 operators were arrested and 44 motorbikes impounded. 

Kisii Central Deputy County Commissioner Wilberforce Kilonzo said the operators were arrested due to lack of licences, failing to wear helmets, overloading and riding unroadworthy bikes.

In Machakos, the chairman of boda boda Association Allan Musembi asked riders to comply with the regulations, saying it would reduce crime.

“Back then we had boda boda that were numbered and had the name of the stage written so that if anything happened, it would be easy to know who committed the crime and where he operated from,” said Musembi.

—Reports by Noven Owiti, Sophie Njoka, Roy Lumbe, Wycliff Kipsang, Robert Ochoro and KNA