• President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered boda boda riders to be registered afresh..
• This followed last Friday’s incident where a group of rogue riders attacked and molested a female driver in Nairobi after an accident.
Image: ANDREW KASUKU
If you are a frequent boda boda user, you must have been inconvenienced in one way or another due to the ongoing crackdown on rogue riders.
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday ordered a crackdown on rogue boda boda operators across the country.
This followed last Friday’s incident where a group of rogue riders attacked and molested a female motorist in Nairobi after an accident.
He also ordered boda boda riders to be registered afresh.
"I did give instructions and I have ordered all boda boda operators starting here in Nairobi and moving across the country to be registered afresh," the President said.
Image: ANDREW KASUKU
Well, the directive came at a time when Kenyans were angry at the unjust treatment met on a female motorist on Wangari Maathai Road.
Many of us were happy that the rogue boda boda riders are getting exactly what they deserve but another lot feels they are inconvenienced.
Njoroge Kimani, a Kibera businessman, said he uses boda bodas quite often and was happy something was being done to address the hooliganism on Kenyan roads.
"I was happy rogue bodaboda riders were going to pay for their unwanted behaviours, but I had not thought about how this whole situation would affect me.
"I live in Mlolongo and I use motorbikes because they can easily manoeuvre in traffic and get me to work faster than matatus. But today, I had to take a matatu, and due to the traffic snarl-up, I ended up getting to work one hour late. My morning was ruined," Njoroge said.
Nduta Maingi, a business lady, has been relying on one boda boda rider for close to four years.
The rider takes her to different places when she is in a rush.
Image: ANDREW KASUKU
"I'm a businesswoman and I rely on my boda boda guy to deliver packages to my client. Of course, I was happy the lady was getting the justice she deserves, but my business was going to suffer," Nduta said.
"I called my boda guy on Wednesday morning, not remembering there's a crackdown. He told me he can't leave the house because his motorbike would be confiscated. I had to get a cab."
Speaking to Peter Ndunda, a boda boda rider from Kibera, he said the crackdown had really inconvenienced many boda boda operators.
"The business is my source of livelihood and since there's a crackdown, my family will miss a few essentials. I work with so many clients, I even had to make a timetable so as to cater to all my customers. But now I have to park my bike at home and look for another source of income to feed my wife and three kids," Ndunda said.
He said police had confiscated motorcycles of some of his friends during the crackdown.
"I try as hard as I can to follow traffic rules and laws just to stay out of trouble. Despite knowing very well there's a crackdown, some of my colleagues still went ahead and rode their boda bodas but they were confiscated," Ndunda added.
Some of the online food delivery apps alerted their customers to expect delays following the crackdown.
"Due to boda boda situation, delays in deliveries may be experienced," the notice read.
Just after police intensified crackdown on boda boda riders, the operators appeared to be remorseful.
A photo shared on Twitter by a user, Chara George, showed a section of the operators with messages stuck on their backs with the words "we are sorry".
George appealed to authorities to have mercy on the operators following the apology.
"Please the powerfully connected middle and upper class, forgive them. They are brothers, sons, fathers and husbands. They serve the less fortunate who can't afford a car but has families to feed," George said.
On Thursday, a Milimani Court detained 16 riders for 15 days pending investigations.
Milimani Principal Magistrate Robert Shikwe ruled that the application by the prosecution to have the 16 suspects detained was merited.
He said the matter was of public interest, and there was a need for police to be given time to probe the suspects.
The case will be mentioned on March 24.
Nairobi Governor Ann Kananu also gave boda boda leaders seven days to avail themselves for an open discussion regarding their conduct within the county.
The county boss stated that unruly and uncouth behaviour will not be tolerated within Nairobi.
"Nairobi must be safe for every motorist and I extended my arm for consultation with the bodaboda operators. I give them seven days to reach out to the county," Kananu noted.
"What we witnessed about the incident was embarrassing, outdated and barbaric. Our ladies need to be protected from such actions," she added.