Boda boda riders from Athi River sub-county have been banned from operating late in the night.
The region’s deputy county commissioner Geoffrey Omoding’ said the ban was to help crack down criminals who use boda-boda operators to commit crime in the area.
Omoding’ spoke at Mlolongo town during a security meeting with boda-boda operators and sub-county’s security team on Wednesday.
He said no rider should engage in the business after 11.00 p.m.
“No boda boda business as from 11.00 p.m so that criminals do not take advantage of the industry,” said Omoding’.
“We want to zero rate crime in Athi River Sub County, we do not want to hear that someone has died in the hands of criminals,” said Omoding’.
Omoding’ said there were several instances where residents and businessmen had been attacked, robbed and killed by bandits on motorbikes suspected to be under custody of boda-boda operators during the time of crime.
He said the ban will also protect the operators because they also fall victims of such criminals.
Omoding’ said there were cases of the riders being lured by criminals who end up beating them up and stealing their motorcycles.
He urged the operators not to accept being misused by politicians to breach law for their own personal interests but instead partner with police officers to eliminate crime.
“You boda-boda operators are good people as opposed to how some people view you in the community, you contribute a lot in eliminating crime. Report to police suspects who pretend to be your clients,” said Omoding’.
Omoding’ said boda-boda operators should be elected by residents to be leaders of Nyumba Kumi Initiative since they interact with many people on a daily basis.
He warned boda-boda operators who engage or collude with bandits to commit crime thereby terrorizing the public those their days were numbered.
“There are people we are hunting, some have in the past used boda-boda to rob MPESA among other businesses in Mlolongo town and its environs,” said Omoding’.
Omoding’ said all the operators from the region should have uniforms and registration numbers for easier identifications.