Boda Boda Operators Cautioned Against Being Used To Cause Violence During Political Events

KISII, Kenya, Oct 26- Boda Boda operators in the country have been asked to desist from being used as tools of violence, during political events in the country.

Authorities in Kisii, where thousands of youth earn their daily income from the sector say the operators must call out politicians seeking to misuse them, saying they are simply being taken for granted.

Kisii Central Deputy County commissioner Wilberforce Kilonzo said police are ready to work with operators in the County, to ensure rogue elements are weeded out of the sector.

“We have witnessed in many occasions where some politicians hire them to cause chaos during political gatherings and demonstrations,” Kilonzo said during a thanksgiving ceremony for the operators in Masongo public grounds.

“If someone asks you or hires you to participate in a procession of any kind, always ask them to show you the police permit.”

Kisii has more than 6,000 boda boda operators.

According to the National Crime Research Centre, the explosion of boda-boda in public transport in the country has taken a similar trajectory to the matatus industry – which operated illegally and thrived on lawlessness when they were first introduced in Kenya in the 1960 -70s.

The rise, NCRC says is attributable to among other factors the inability of the transport system to cater to the transport needs of Kenyans, poor transport infrastructure, the 2008 government policy zero-rating motorcycles below 250cc leading to a drop in motorcycle prices, and widespread youth unemployment that pushed youths to embrace Boda Bodas’ as a source of employment.

According to the National Transport and Safety Authority, there are about 1.4 million registered motorcycles in the country although the exact number of boda-bodas operating in Kenya has not been well documented.

This is due to the fact that some of them are not registered as required by the law and further, the sector is not well regulated.

Over 65 percent are not registered with one motorbike being operated by more than three people.