NAIROBI, Kenya- A Nairobi resident has petitioned the High Court seeking urgent orders to curb what he describes as a growing crisis of road accidents, mob violence, and property destruction linked to unregulated boda boda operations in the city.
The petitioner, Rogers Monda, accuses state agencies and transport regulators of failing to uphold citizens’ constitutional rights to life, security, dignity, and property.
His petition names the Attorney-General, National Police Service, Inspector-General of Police, NTSA, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, and Nairobi County Government as respondents.
In court documents, Monda is requesting that the police be ordered to activate rapid-response units for motorcycle-related accidents, secure accident sites, prevent mob attacks, stop assaults, curb arson, make immediate arrests, and preserve evidence, including CCTV and publicly recorded videos.
He is also asking the court to direct NTSA and Nairobi County to enforce boda boda regulations immediately.
This includes ensuring riders are licensed, competent, wear helmets and reflective jackets, display number plates, adhere to passenger limits, and carry insurance.
Furthermore, Monda wants the court to compel the respondents to prepare, within 14 days, a time-bound emergency plan to tackle boda boda-related accidents, violence, and arson in Nairobi, complete with clear coordination mechanisms and accountability measures.
Pending the main petition, the applicant is urging the court to adopt a temporary Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for accident and mob response.
This would define police response times, command structure at accident scenes, victim protection, mandatory arrests, and proper evidence handling.
The petition also seeks interim orders for an identification and accountability framework for commercial boda boda riders, along with measures to protect witnesses and victims from intimidation.
Monda argues there is a predictable and recurring pattern of mob attacks, sexual violence, lynching, and arson at accident scenes.
He warns that a threatened public service vehicle strike could paralyse transport and escalate public disorder if urgent action is not taken.
He emphasizes that without court intervention, the public faces irreparable harm, while the government agencies would suffer no prejudice by being compelled to fulfill their constitutional and statutory responsibilities.
