NAIROBI,Kenya, Mar, 8 – Over 100 bodaboda riders were Tuesday arraigned at the Milimani law courts
Over 100 motor cycle operators were arraigned at Milimani law courts in Nairobi for flouting various traffic rules.
Appearing before Senior principal magistrate Esther Kimilu, the riders were charged with riding a motor vehicle on or through pavements dedicated for pedestrian use only. contrary to he law.
Court documents revealed that they committed the offence on March,8 2022 at 9am along parklands road Nairobi county.
The accused were each slapped with fines ranging between Sh30,000 and Sh35,000 each.
The mass arrests came just hours after a video on social media showed a female motorists being sexually assaulted by rowdy bodaboda operators in Nairobi county.
According to preliminary reports, the incident occurred on March,4,2022.
During the incident the rogue bad body operators are also said to have stolen Sh130,000 from her.
Government officials led by Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiangi and her Energy counterpart Dr. Monica Juma have condemned the incident.
“We must protect our roads from such vile and reprehensible acts of aggression,” the Interior Cabinet Secretary said.
“I have asked our security agents to ensure that all the perpetrators of this dastardly act are swiftly apprehended and suitably punished for their heinous act.”
The video emerged a few hours before International Women’s Day, when such incidents are condemned and ways of promoting and protecting women discussed.
While it is the latest, it is not an isolated incident.
Public Prosecutor, Duncan Ondimu called on police to launch a major crackdown, targeting all rogue Boda Boda operators, following the incident.
“This is the time for the National Police Service to conduct a serious crackdown on Boda Boda who flout traffic laws. Very few of them have driving permits and insurance,” he said.
Already thousands of Kenyans have signed a petition calling for reforms within the sector.
The online petition is calling for drastic regulatory measures within the chaotic sector, whose operators are known for operating with utter impunity.
Inspector-General of Police Hillary Mutyambai said police had arrested 32 suspects on Monday evening and seized several motorcycles over the incident.
Human Rights organisations like Amnesty International-Kenya, International Commission of Jurists-Kenya and Usikimye, have condemned the incident and called for swift action against the perpetrators.
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