Tuesday November 18 was the D-Day for the rule barring Kisii Bodabodas from accessing some restricted areas within the town centre.
However, the operators defied orders and uniformly tried to pass the restricted areas, in the process crossing the path of county enforcement officers who refused to let them.
This led to an exchange between the two sides.
The bodabodas called one another saying that they will not agree with the orders. “We must pass! We must pass!” they chanted as they demonstrated towards Daraja Mbili.
At reaching Daraja Mbili, the county enforcement officers sought the help of the Administration Police in their quest disperse the rowdy operators.
The police answered their cry and flashed the town in every corner. Reaching Daraji Mbili market, the AP and the bodabodas started engaging in a cat-and-mouse game. The operators threw stones at the police officers, and eyewitnesses said some police and individuals could have been injured in the exchange.
“It was hot here. Police and bodabodas engaged in war and we think those that were seized by the police were seriously injured as the police descended on them heavily after they throw them stones,” said Calvine Mogaka, an eye witness.
John Ombuki, a tout at themarket, said there are high chances that even the police were injured in the fracas.
“The bodabodas were so rowdy, throwing stones at random to the police and I think some police were stoned as they tried to disperse them. Immediately they came out of their Land Cruisers, they were welcomed by ‘rain of stones’,” he said.
One county enforcement officers said that the bodabodas were only making a big scene out of nothing since the county had negotiated with them from December last year and they all knew that the rule was finally to be enforced.
“Bodabodas know it very well. The county had talked to them severally and in fact the issue of today’s enforcement was supposed to have come early but due to negotiations held at Gusii Stadium, the county had to give them time to reorganise themselves but you can see they do not want, which we are saying they have to follow. It is an order and as law enforcement officers of the county we must ensure they follow,” said one of the officers who sought anonymity due to his junior ranks in the squad.
The bodabodas called for the county government to build roads to the standards and they will be more than willing to abide by the rules. They vowed to challenge the county to the bitter end.