Machakos boda boda operators urged to be peace, security ambassadors

Machakos County Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha has urged bodaboda operators to be peace, safety and security ambassadors.

Onyancha said the operators should be law-abiding and cooperate with security agencies so as to not only ensure sanity in the bodaboda sector but also help make Machakos County a safe and secure place to live in.

She said the youth should help weed out bad elements from the bodaboda sector by sharing intelligence information with security agencies.

The administrator, however, cautioned the operators against getting involved in mob injustice whenever they have issues with either motorists, fellow bodaboda operators or other members of the public.

“Let’s be patient and avoid mob injustice. Let’s follow due legal procedures whenever there are accidents or incidences involving bodaboda operators,” Onyancha said.

Onyancha spoke when she officiated the national bodaboda registration at Machakos Huduma Centre on Monday. The exercise is ongoing countrywide.

She said bodaboda operators should desist from taking the law into their own hands and instead let relevant government authorities do their work whenever there are incidences.

“There are always traffic police officers whenever accidents occur, dialogue or negotiate for safety on our roads,” Onyancha said.

Onyancha told bodaboda operators to be on the lookout and report criminal cases or suspicious persons whenever they encounter them for speedy interventions by security agencies.

This she said will help curtain criminal activities in the county thereby reducing the rate of crime.

She said there were incidences of vandalism of critical infrastructures such as transformers belonging to Kenya Power Company and fibre optic.

“We have lots of transformers being vandalized in this county. We urge the youth to help us in this sector. As you go round doing your businesses, if you see anybody on Kenya Power lines, inform security agencies to avoid disruption of electricity,” Onyancha said.

“So that we know whether those on the lines are from Kenya Power, contractors or vandals,” Onyancha said.

Onyancha said the government was losing lots of money to replace vandalized transformers which could take even three months.

She said that the exercise that targets 200,000 youths across the country will ensure order and sanity in the sector.

The administrator called on the operators from all the nine sub-county within Machakos to create time and get registered at the only Huduma centre located in Machakos town.

She told the operators to be wary of their personal safety and avoid operating on insecure routes during late hours.

Onyancha cautioned the operators against getting involved in criminal activities including transporting illicit brew, bhang,  stolen goods or criminals.