• Criminals aboard boda-bodas surveil and target these neighbourhoods and rob pedestrians of their phones and valuables at gunpoint.
• Boda-bodas are a popular means of transport across Kenya, but the sector operates under minimal government regulation and little practical control.
Image: DCI
Security and risk management experts, SF Group, are accusing a section of boda boda operators of being at the centre of criminal activities witnessed in Nairobi in recent days.
SF Group released an Advisory to Kenyans, warning them of potential perpetrators and risky areas to avoid as law enforcement strategises on ways forward.
In the advisory, they said the incidents mainly target pedestrians, traders and motorists, and increasingly feature the use of motorcycles and boda-boda taxis.
They said despite frequent operations conducted by the Nairobi County police surveillance teams, both plain-clothed and uniformed, muggings in the Nairobi CBD and along busy roads have continued.
“These operations reached a peak on November 4, when police arrested at least 200 motorcycle taxi (boda bodas) operators linked to criminal activity across the city,” they said.
They said affluent areas such as Kilimani, Karen as well as low-to-middle income settlements in Eastlands are often targeted in armed confrontations.
Others include Muthaiga, Kileleshwa, Gigiri, Lavington, Kitisuru and Westlands, which are often targeted for armed home invasions.
These areas traditionally experience higher levels of opportunist crime due to the density of commercial facilities, particularly at night.
“Criminals aboard boda-bodas survey and target these neighbourhoods and rob pedestrians of their phones and valuables at gunpoint,” they said.
Ken Onyango, Chairman of the Boda Boda Association in Nairobi, has, however termed the remarks as unfair adding that is wrong to categorise all motorcyclists as Boda Bodas.
"Boda boda is a business and many Kenyans in Nairobi use them to earn an honest living. Not all Boda bodas are criminals," he said.
He said the right term to use is motorcycles, as there are people who buy motorcycles to use for unknown personal use which could include, getting away from crime scenes faster.
"There is no regulation when buying a motorcycle, nobody asks what you intend to do with it," he said.
Boda-bodas are a popular means of transport across Kenya, but the sector, SF said, operates under minimal government regulation and little practical control.
“As a result, criminals use boda-bodas to conduct robberies as they are cheap, numerous, and very mobile even in heavy traffic, offering a quick means of escape from both foot and vehicle police patrols,” they said.
Timing victims
“Boda boda-mounted thieves operating in pairs, with one driving the motorcycle and the pillion passenger being armed, drive around likely target areas looking for potential victims to rob,” they said.
They approach victims, threaten them and demand cash and other valuables.
Where weapons are threatened, they said, the robbers are almost certainly willing to use lethal force
“Victims are usually walking or running in what appears to be a safe and well-frequented neighbourhood or they are typically out for lunch, walking, carrying cash while shopping, using or holding mobile phones, and have reduced levels of vigilance,” they said.
They then escape on the Boda bodas.
Usually, it is around evening time, but increasing numbers occur in daylight, a majority happening during the weekends.
Some incidents, they said, involve groups of thieves on several motorcycles.
Onyango stated that it is difficult to differentiate between a Boda boda and a private cyclist but on their part, they have registered their members after former Interior CS Fred Matiang'i's directive.
"We have gone further even to collect details of our members and giving them identity cards to and an extra number plate adjacent to the normal number plate which can be scanned to show their identity as boda boda riders," he said.
SF singled out Kilimani as one particular hotspot for muggings at gunpoint.
They said the area has recorded a rise in the frequency of express robberies over the past two months.
“One particular incident of concern was recorded on September 29, when two gunmen on a boda-boda robbed four German tourists on Kindaruma Road, Kilimani, in broad daylight, as they were boarding a van to head to the Nairobi National Park,” they said.
The gunmen fired warning shots to disperse a crowd that had gathered at the scene, before escaping towards Ngong Road with jewellery, passports and Sh16,000 in cash.
“Over the past several weeks, numerous robberies were recorded along George Padmore Road and Ngong Road, close to the Kindaruma Road area,” they said.
In other parts of the CBD, thieves target passengers while alighting from public vehicles to steal portable items such as mobile telephones, jewellery and cash.
“The rise in petty crime in the CBD is partly attributed to the change in political leadership that largely influenced a reshuffle of the security setup as well as at the Nairobi County Council,” they said.
Additionally, despite the high levels of private security man-guarding and vehicle patrol teams across the city, domestic burglaries and muggings remain a serious security concern in Nairobi.
“Vehicle theft is also increasing, with thieves typically targeting cars parked in unsecured, unmanned parking lots and outside business premises,” they said.
In several recorded incidents, they said, thieves have stolen large sums of cash from vehicles.
Onyango admits that he cannot rule out that a single boda boda in his association is not involved in criminal activity.
"Of course, there are others who may be involved in crimes. But we cannot say that the surge in crimes in the city is solely perpetrated by rogue Boda bodas," he said.