President Uhuru Kenyatta has ordered all boda boda riders to be registered afresh.
Speaking on Tuesday, the Head of State also directed a crackdown on all rogue boda boda riders across the country.
He cautioned leaders against politicising the issue.
Following the Forest Road incident, where a woman driver was assaulted and harassed by boda boda operators, on Friday, March 4, Uhuru ordered that all boda bodas will be registered afresh.
The President cracked the whip on boda boda riders during the International Women’s Day celebrations attended by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta and Rwanda’s First Lady Janet Kagame.
Uhuru pointed out that it was very unfortunate for boda boda operators to assault a woman driver adding that they soiled the woman’s reputation and his administration will not tolerate such acts.
“A boda boda is not a licence to strip a woman. There should never be a repeat of what happened on Friday. This is a blight on the whole Kenyan society,” the President remarked.
“We want to support the bodaboda business but it is not a license for a boda boda to do drive-by shootings and most definitely it is not a license for you to strip and remove dignity from our women. We will re-register all bodabodas. Those who want to politicize this let them go ahead and do that,” he added.
He also acknowledged that the industry has very brave young men and women who do great work in the digital development agenda as well as protecting people who are in danger from their rogue colleagues.
“We have heard of many heroic stories of young men who have come to the rescue of people and women in distress… but it is most definitely not a licence for you to strip and remove dignity from our women,” the head of state remarked.
Uhuru stated that his government wants to help the sector to grow but they should also realize that most people who like using boda bodas are women. He noted that women trust the boda boda operators for easier and quick movement.
“We want to see our young people succeed in their businesses. We have done more to reduce the prices of these motorbikes and we did this to promote their businesses… we applaud the many wonderful young men and in some cases women who do great service to this country,” he stated.
Source: The Star