120 motorcycles have been impounded during the ongoing national crackdown on bodaboda operators in Machakos County.
Machakos County Police Commander Issa Mohammud said his officers conducted a countywide operation which led to the impoundment and arrests of several operators.
The crackdown started at 5.00 am on Thursday.
The National Police Service launched the nationwide crackdown following President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive.
The crackdown is intended to ensure sanity among bodaboda operators across the country through discipline and adherence to relevant traffic rules and regulations alongside relevant Kenyan laws.
“120 motorbikes have been impounded today in Machakos County due to several reasons that included lack of insurance, helmets, reflector jackets, number plates, defective parts, and non – compliant operators who don’t have driving licenses,” Mohammud said.
Mohammud spoke to the Star on Thursday evening stating that his officers were vigilantly enforcing the President’s directive in all the eight sub-counties.
He said some of the operators were arraigned in various courts across the county and fined between Sh5, 000 and Sh15, 000 depending on the offences.
65 motorbikes were impounded in the Athi river sub-county.
Mohammud said all those whose motorbikes were impounded in Athi River Sub County were arraigned in Mavoko law courts.
They were fined Sh15, 000 each by the court. A majority had multiple offences.
“The crackdown will bring back some sanity and we want to address these issues diligently. We will educate the bodaboda operators on traffic usage and the law,” he said.
He said no motorcycle will be released from lawful police custody without proof of proper ownership documents.
Mohammud said they were committed as the National Police Service to ensure sanity in the bodaboda industry.
He said all operators in Machakos County must respect their customers, passengers and treat them with dignity without infringing on their rights.
He cautioned the operators who had taken advantage of the crackdown to raise transport charges for their prices.
The operators have doubled their fare charges owing to the crackdown.
