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Ruto gives amnesty to owners of motorcycles detained at police stations
07th August, 2025 02:15 PM
President William Ruto has pardoned all Boda Boda operators who had their motorcycles detained at various police stations across the country.
Ruto, while supporting bodaboda operators’ business, has announced that all motorcycles detained and not linked to any criminal cases will be released in a week.
The Head of State made his remarks on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at the State House, Nairobi, in a meeting with a section of Boda Boda operators. On his part, Ruto asked the Ministry of Interior to work alongside the Inspector General of Police to ensure the Bodaboda operators get back their motorcycles.
“Met Boda Boda officials from all sub-counties, State House, Nairobi. Gave amnesty to owners of motorcycles which have been detained at police stations and are not linked to criminal cases.
“Asked the Ministry of Interior to work with the Inspector-General of Police to have the motorcycles released in the next week,” Ruto said.
Likewise, the President acknowledged that Boda Boda operators are legitimate entrepreneurs whose business must be supported. In addition, he revealed the government’s plans to enact laws that embrace self-regulation, which, according to Ruto, will enhance the Boda Boda sector’s growth.
“Boda Boda operators are legitimate entrepreneurs whose businesses must be supported. We will work with all stakeholders to enact a law that embraces self-regulation that will help spur the sector’s growth,” Ruto said.
Mama Mboga’s concerns
At the time of the meeting with Boda Boda operators, Ruto also had dismissive remarks that his administration had neglected boda boda riders and mama mbogas, the groups he often referred to as the foundation of his bottom-up economic model.
He assured all Mama Mbogas that the interests of those at the bottom of the economic pyramid will remain key to his government’s policies.
“Kuna watu wengi wananikejeli kwamba nilisahau watu wa bodaboda na mama mboga katika mpango wetu,” Ruto said. Further adding, “Mimi nataka niwajibu leo. Kwa ile bottom-up nilisema, every government policy that this administration has rolled out has been informed by the bottom-up philosophy, first taking into account the people at the bottom of the pyramid.
Ruto said he has consistently supported the boda boda community, noting that during the last general election, he placed both boda boda riders and mama mbogas at the heart of the national conversation.
“In the last election, I elevated bodaboda riders until they became central to the election agenda,” he said.
“There were two groups at the centre of it all, bodaboda and mama mboga. Who else, if not me, introduced them into the national conversation?” Ruto said.
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