A lobby group has lauded the suspension of a nationwide police crackdown on boda boda operators, saying the crackdown led to “unnecessary violence”.
The Independent Medico Legal Unit (IMLU) termed the crackdown as a punitive nature and collective punishment approach which is completely against the philosophy of policing provided for in the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and the National Police Service Act 2011.
“It has led to unnecessary violence, injuries and opened avenues of extortion and corruption, leave alone the loss of business for those who are in compliance with the legal requirements,” IMLU said in a statement.
The lobby urged two levels of government to recognise the role of community policing in addressing issues, citing undeniable evidence for effective policing where police station commanders have formed Community Policing Units.
The community policing approach has been accepted by policing committees and discovered long-term answers to this lawlessness and contempt for the rule of law.
“We call upon the Inspector General of Police to ensure that his commanders across the over 1,350 police stations apply community policing principles in dealing with this issue. Starting with convening meetings of the leadership of boda boda operators in their station jurisdiction and holding meaningful dialogue on how to implement the policy guidelines in the next 60 days,” IMLU stated.
The National Police Service halted the operation mandated by President Uhuru Kenyatta citing ongoing consultations with stakeholders.
Police said this will pave way for an imminent overhaul of the entire sector which is being conducted by the multi-sectoral committee tasked with the exercise.
“Enforcement of compliance of traffic law by public transport motorcycles aka boda boda crackdown has been suspended,” the police service said on Saturday.
“This is to give room to the government to reorganise the sector through a multi-sectoral committee working on a framework of implementation.”
Police spokesman Bruno Shioso, however, warned that the existing prohibition of boda boda riders from the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) is still in force.
“The ban on boda boda operating within the Nairobi CBD remains strictly in force.
All boda boda operators and riders are advised to comply with all requirements in due course,” he said.
The nationwide crackdown was instituted in response to an incident on Wangari Maathai Road in Nairobi, where a gang of boda boda operators molested a female motorist.