Police in Kisumu have impounded over 100 motorcycles within five hours following President Uhuru Kenyatta’s order on crackdown.
In an operation that kicked off today at around 11:00 am, Nyanza Regional police commander Karanja Muiruri said a total of 130 motorcycles were impounded.
While addressing the media at the police training college in Kisumu where the motorcycles were detained, Muiruri said the exercise was conducted within Kisumu city and its neighbourhood.
He said the motorcycles were detained for various traffic offences including operating without certificate insurance.
He also accused some riders of operating without a driving license which he stated was very dangerous.
“It is very wrong to operate without a driving license and we have noticed that most of the riders do not have driving licences, driving without wearing helmets and reflector jackets,” he said.
The police boss urged the riders to ensure that they strictly follow the law and adhere to what is required of them to avoid being arrested.
At the same time, he said that most of the motorcycles are suspected to be unroadworthy and shall be subjected to the process of inspection to ascertain their serviceability.
He also told K24 Digital that several riders abandoned their motorcycles and disappeared for fear of being arrested.
“We have been able to arrest 18 riders and detained them at Central Police Station as they wait to be arraigned in court tomorrow,” he said.
According to Lucas Ojuang a boda boda rider in town, he accused the President of being unfair to them claiming that those who were involved in harassing the lady along Forest Road are the ones who should be dealt with and not everyone.
He also said that police officers have now taken advantage of the situation and are even arresting innocent riders.
“Today, police have been chasing us all over the town and even nabbing motorcycles from innocent people who have all the details required for one to operate a motorcycle. It’s like the government wants to do away with bodaboda without considering us,” he said.
