Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced a crackdown targeting sections of boda boda riders accused of engaging in criminal activities.
Speaking on Friday, September 12, Murkomen revealed that some groups within the sector were being misused to cause chaos and harm innocent people.
"Some of these boda boda groups are being used to harass, beat and torture people. I have already informed security teams that there will be a major crackdown with the support of security officers from the national level," he stated.
Murkomen noted that the operation would not be influenced by political considerations and would be conducted firmly to restore sanity in the sector.
"We must bring order to the boda boda sector. We will do so without fear or favour, without any ill will, and without considering political affiliations because we want people to live in a peaceful environment," he added.
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This comes months after law scholar Makau Mutua called for a total ban on boda bodas from the streets of all major cities and towns across the country.
In a statement on Thursday, July 17, Mutua stated that motorcycles should have no place in modern urban settings due to the chaos they bring.
"I'm convinced that all boda boda should be banned from the streets of all Kenya’s major cities and towns. No modern city should tolerate such chaos, illegality, terrible aesthetics, and indiscipline on its roads. Absolutely unacceptable," he said.
In response, the Boda Boda Safety Association of Kenya (BAK) called the comments reckless, warning that such sentiments threaten the livelihoods of millions of Kenyans.
"We strongly condemn the recent statement by Prof. Makau Mutua on his social media platforms calling for the banning of all boda bodas from Kenya’s cities and towns.
"Such remarks are not only reckless but deeply inconsiderate coming from a leader associated with a government that champions the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) — a model that places the common mwananchi at the center of economic growth,” the association said in a statement on Friday, July 18.
BAK stated that the boda boda sector is not just a transport option, but an economic pillar for millions of Kenyan households, especially among the youth.
"Boda boda is not just a mode of transport; it is a lifeline for over 2 million Kenyan families who rely on this industry for daily income, food, school fees, and healthcare.
"Dismissing the entire sector as chaotic and illegal ignores the role it plays in creating employment and sustaining local economies — especially among the youth and low-income earners," the statement added.
BAK urged government leaders to work collaboratively with stakeholders to improve the industry, rather than cast it aside.
"We urge all leaders, especially those in government, to uphold the principles of inclusion and empowerment, and to work with us toward solutions that uplift, not marginalize, this vital sector of our economy," the statement concluded.
