KISII, Kenya – Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has directed security agencies to launch a nationwide crackdown on rogue boda boda riders, accusing some of them of being used for political violence and criminal activities.
Speaking in Kisii on Friday after a security briefing, Murkomen said the sector—worth billions of shillings and a major employer of youth—had been hijacked by “selfish individuals and politicians targeting their opponents.”
He cited recent clashes in Kisii at the start of the month where two rival boda boda factions linked to politicians violently confronted each other, saying such incidents had tarnished the image of an otherwise vital industry.
“We shall have a major crackdown here with the support of officers from the national level to bring order in the boda boda sector. This security operation will be done without any consideration to political affiliation,” the CS warned.
Murkomen stressed that boda boda riding remains an important enabler of economic growth but must be regulated like any other business.
He revealed that some proscribed groups were using the trade as a cover to engage in criminal activities.
The CS said the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), in collaboration with county and national governments, will spearhead licensing and regulatory measures to restore order.
“Boda boda activities benefit the youth. This is a multibillion-shillings sector and it should be regulated as any other lawful business,” Murkomen said.
The directive comes as Murkomen continues his grassroots security engagement tour, dubbed Jukwaa la Usalama, in the Nyanza region.
