16 boda boda riders arrested over assault of female motorist freed

Sixteen boda boda riders arrested over the assault of a female motorist on Wangari Maathai Road have finally been released.

The sixteen, who had been in jail for the past seventeen days, will not be charged after the prosecutor said they did not find enough evidence to pin them to the offence.

“The investigating officer having found no evidence to charge the suspects, I hereby release them under section 87 (a) of the Penal code,” Milimani senior principal magistrate Martha Nanzushi ruled.

She directed the suspects to go back to Gigiri Police Station to pick up their phones and other belongings.

However, the mastermind Zachariah Obadiah, who is facing criminal charges, will be charged with three counts.

The three counts are robbery with violence, indecent acts with an adult as well as malicious damage to property.

The riders had been arrested over a viral video of a female motorist being sexually harassed on Wangari Maathai Road.

According to the Nairobi traffic boss, the woman was driving from Limuru’s side when she knocked down a pedestrian prompting boda boda riders to accost her.

In the video capturing the incident, the woman was heard screaming as some of the men undressed her while others ordered she be removed from inside the car.

She was, however, rescued by police officers who were around the scene of the incident.

“Our officers rushed to save this motorist. They dragged her to the back seat and one of our officers drove her away,” said Nairobi Traffic Commandant Joshua Omukata.

The Nairobi traffic commandant disclosed that the victim sustained fractures on the leg and is undergoing treatment at Kiambu Level 4 Hospital.

He warned boda boda riders that stern action would be taken against them for such barbaric acts.