Mosiria proposes arresting riders and passengers to end boda boda lawlessness
By Ascah Mwango, April 1, 2026Nairobi County Chief Officer for Citizen Engagement and Customer Service, Geoffrey Mosiria, has proposed that both boda boda riders and their passengers should be arrested when traffic laws are broken, in what he sees as a more effective way to restore order on the roads.
In a statement shared via his X account on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, Mosiria pointed out that many riders knowingly flout traffic rules despite being fully aware that what they are doing is wrong. From riding on the wrong side of the road to ignoring basic safety measures, the violations have become almost routine in parts of the city.
But in his view, the problem does not lie with the riders alone. He said that passengers play a silent but significant role in encouraging this behaviour, either by demanding faster routes, ignoring the risks, or simply choosing convenience over safety.
To tackle this, Mosiria is proposing a crackdown that does not spare the customer. He argued that once passengers know they could be arrested alongside the rider, they will begin to demand safer, law-abiding trips. In turn, riders will have little choice but to comply, not because enforcement has suddenly improved, but because their own clients will refuse to be part of risky, illegal rides.
“Wanavunja sheria wakijua ni vibaya wanachofanya. Wakishikwa, wanasema kanjo ni wabaya. The only way to stop this reckless behaviour of boda boda riders breaking the law is to arrest both the rider and the customer. By doing so, they will be forced to self-regulate, as clients will demand that riders follow the law and avoid risking their lives by using the wrong side of the road,” Mosiria stated.
This comes weeks after Mosiria raised concerns over boda boda riders flouting traffic rules, warning that unsafe practices were costing lives and affecting livelihoods across Nairobi.
He noted that riders break rules either deliberately or in attempts to avoid arrest, often leading to dangerous behaviours such as riding on the wrong side of the road, which has contributed to frequent accidents. Hospitals in Nairobi continue to admit injured riders, leaving families struggling with medical bills and loss of income.
He added that hospitals in Nairobi are currently admitting many boda boda riders injured in road accidents, a situation that leaves families struggling.
“If you visit our hospitals today, you will find many bodaboda riders admitted in our wards, leaving families in pain and without a source of income,” he said.
Mosiria called for a better relationship between boda boda riders and enforcement officers, urging both sides to embrace respect and dialogue.
“It is time to build a better relationship between bodaboda riders and enforcement officers, one based on respect, dialogue, and coexistence, not hostility. The County is not an enemy. The law exists to protect life,” he said.