• The crackdown saw the arrest of hundreds of riders across the city and tens of motorcycles impounded.
• The operators have also been accused of abetting crime by being used by thugs to escape from scenes of crime or to snatch phones from pedestrians.
Image: FRED MATIANG'I
The government has defended its crackdown on boda boda riders saying the move is devoid of malice and one geared towards reforming the sector.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i said on Wednesday the decision is a critical public policy aimed at restoring sanity in the sector.
“Which government will play games with over 2.5 million of its citizens who are engaged in economic activity?” Matiang’i posed.
“We would probably be the most foolish government on earth, and we are not,” Matiangi said.
He was speaking during the National Convention on Boda Boda Reforms at The Kenya School of Government, Lower Kabete, Nairobi.
President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered a crackdown on the boda boda sector and fresh registration of the riders following the assault of a female motorist on Wangari Maathai road on March 4.
The crackdown saw the arrest of hundreds of riders across the city and tens of motorcycles impounded.
At least 16 riders were charged in court and released on bail over the assault incident.
Matiang’i said the move was in no way aimed at punishing the operators, most of who are youth.
He said the president has on numerous occasions demonstrated that he has the interests of the youth at heart by nominating young people to his government.
“Since the history of this country, this is the first president to appoint young people as assistant ministers to the cabinet to be trained to become ministers,” Matiang’i said.
“When people are telling you on the campaign trail 'oh we will appoint young people', the president has already done that,” he added.
Matiang'i cited Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi, ICT CS Joe Mucheru, Higher Education CAS Zack Kinuthia, and ICT CAS Maureen Mbaka as some of the youthful appointees in government.
The boda boda sector has come under criticism over time for advancing lawlessness, especially on roads.
A section of the riders has been implicated in taking the law in their hands and beating up motorists involved in traffic accidents with them.
The incident involving the female motorist on Wangari Maathai road was one such act of lawlessness.
The operators have also been accused of abetting crime by being used by thugs to escape from scenes of crime or to snatch phones from pedestrians.
Matiang’i affirmed that the government is determined to reform the sector by hook or crook like the late Interior Minister John Michuki once did to the matatu industry.
"Those days people said things about Michuki but he stood firm and said we have to do the right thing for the country and that is how they formed SACCOs," Matiang'i said.
"For the past four or five years, we have witnessed a reduction in mass accidents because buses and matatus have organized themselves," he added.
Matiang'i said the government will work towards reforming the boda boda industry by working hand in hand with the officials in the sector.
He directed Interior Secretary Wilson Njenga to take the names and contacts of the officials and share them with regional and county commissioners.
“Tell them that we want them to work with these people and that structure goes all the way to the sub-locations.
“When I arrive in a county, the officials of these organizations should also be there so that when we finish security meetings with county commissioners, they also tell us their problems,” Matiang’i said.