The government has started profiling boda boda operators in Kisumu with a view to curbing the rising cases of insecurity.
The move follows an incident on Monday night in which a boda boda operator, who was wearing a face mask, offered to transport a girl from Mamboleo to Kisumu town but instead branched off into a nearby bush and defiled her.
Residents have called for speedy investigations into the incident so that justice can be served.
Assistant county commissioner Rose Nyakwara said investigating officers have embarked on a manhunt for the suspect.
She appealed to members of the public to take precautions and note the registration numbers of motorbikes and the physical features of the riders before boarding a boda boda.
Nyakwara said the profiling of boda boda riders will enable security personnel to deal firmly with perpetrators of the crime, robbery with violence and harassment of pillion passengers.
She spoke during the Kisumu County Youth Sector Working Group forum.
Nyakwara also appealed to the youth to be wary of politicians who misuse them to attack political rivals.
Director for gender in Kisumu county Anne Barraza asked the youth to be their brother's and sister's keeper while guarding against political opportunists.
Kisumu director of youth affairs Joshua Kaluoch said the forum was convened as part of public participation ahead of the ratification of the Kenya Youth Development Policy (2019) with a view to capturing their input.
The policy envisions a society where youth have an equal opportunity to realise their full potential and aspirations in the socio-economic and political spheres, through honest and hard work not corruption.
It seeks to guide national and county governments along with their partners who play critical roles in the planning and implementation of interventions as well as programmes targeting youth.
Edited by A.N
