Security chiefs plan to crack down on boda bodas used to commit crime in urban areas.
There have been concerns about increased attacks and robbery by people on motorcycles in many parts of the country. A meeting of senior security officials in Nairobi resolved the menace must be stopped.
All officers commanding police stations have been ordered to form teams for the operation. They will also arrest those operating beyond designated hours as most of the attacks happen late in the evening or at night.
In some instances, thugs riding on motorcycles attack in the daytime.
For instance, on June 22, gunmen who on a motorcycle in Eastleigh, Nairobi, attacked a woman and robbed her of cash and jewellery. They shot and injured the woman in the hand as they grabbed the cash.
Another gang shot and killed vehicle dealer Daniel Gucoma in Juja along Thika Road. No arrest has been made.
Nairobi Area police boss Augustine Nthumbi said they are ready to deal with the menace and urged players in the industry to join the fight.
“Some of the stakeholders know who these thugs are and can help us clean the industry. We are ready,” he said.
Unemployment, idleness, poverty, drug and substance abuse, non-regulation of the sector, greed, desire for quick money and weak law enforcement by agencies have been blamed for increased crime involving boda bodas.
Others include peer pressure, illiteracy, criminal minds, insecurity, poor infrastructure, high cost of living, corruption, ease of access to firearms through porous Kenyan border, drought and hunger, uncoordinated boda boda Saccos, political incitement, non-sharing of information with security agencies and tribalism.
Research conducted in 2018 established that some riders are involved in serious crimes such as robbery with violence and have caused accidents that have left many impaired and dead.
For instance, in 2018 alone, the riders caused 3,877 deaths through dangerous riding, stole 3,774 times, breached public order and created public disturbances 3,328 times and stole motorcycles and motorcycle parts 3,227 times.
There were 2,778 cases of assault involving riders, 2,578 cases of robbery and robbery with violence, 2,570 cases of riding under the influence of alcohol, 2,415 cases of possession and usage of dangerous drugs, 2,053 cases of handling and trafficking of dangerous drugs and 1,884 cases of murder involving the riders.
The research also established there were 1,279 cases of kidnapping and abduction involving riders, 1,128 bribery cases, 868 defilement cases, 839 rape cases, 775 cases of smuggling of goods across the borders, 687 of theft of vehicle parts, 638 of fraud and forgery, 624 of handling stolen property and 554 of burglary.
The report showed there 506 cases of motorcycle hijacking involving riders, 493 of tax evasion, 482 indecent assaults, 483 illegal possession and smuggling of firearms and weapons, 577 malicious damage to property, 363 cattle rustling, 198 procuring of abortion, 203 possession and smuggling of forest and wildlife products and 193 contraband and counterfeit.
The riders were involved in 173 cases of carjacking, 148 human trafficking, 99 incest, 94 poaching, 56 offences against tourists, 41 bestiality and 22 sodomy cases.
“Boda bodas are increasingly becoming a very popular and entrenched means of transport in Kenya. However, with the rising popularity, there are worrying concerns that the subsector is increasingly associated with crimes, traffic accidents and impunity with grave implications with public safety,” the report read.
The report by the National Crime Research Centre- Fighting Crime Through Research covered 2018 sought to address concerns around boda boda transport and security challenges in Kenya.
The research was to establish the prevalence of boda boda motorcycle related crimes, root causes of the crimes, perpetrators, mode of operations, examine the consequences, identify the existing control measures and their effectiveness in addressing the crimes and give recommendations.
According to the findings, boda boda operators were involved in 2,359 accidents, were involved in 1,187 related robberies and stealing, involved in 83 lynch mobs, fought and breached public order amongst themselves 49 times, played loud music near a school compound 18 times and transported weapons eight times.
There were 17 incidents in which pillions passengers were raped by riders, 24 riders were involved in drug trafficking, 16 in corruption and bribery, 11 incitement and political interference, 27 were involved in defilement, 12 in trafficking illegal goods and there were 16 cases of harassment of police.
The majority of those interviewed – 88 per cent – said the operators commit crime in their locality.
There were 3,947 cases of theft of motorcycle against the riders, 3,889 cases of robbery with violence, 2,858 murder cases, 2,248 general stealing, 1,337 motorists causing death of riders by dangerous driving, 1,320 assault cases against riders, 1,277 kidnapping and abduction, 980 mob justice, 773 fraud and forgery, 734 fighting, 325 handling stolen property, 323 indecent assault and 282 malicious damage to property.
Some 254 cases of burglary were reported against the riders, 97 rape cases, 47 sodomy, 35 bribery and 13 intimidation and harassment by the security agencies.
The report recommends the establishment of a database of all the operators in Kenya through mandatory registration, refresher training and testing and making the industry a formal sector.
