Opposition leader Raila Odinga has warned traffic police officers to desist from arresting probox drivers and boda boda users. Speaking in Ndhiwa, Homa Bay County on Wednesday, December 26, Raila said the police were carrying out an illegal operation since the new laws set to govern boda boda operations were yet to be effected by the government.
Raila’s sentiments come amid heated uproar from the operators who claim police extort and also harass them even when they are innocent. “It has been said very clearly that nobody should be harrassed becuse he is driving a probox and that everything else has been suspended untill May 2019… I say that any police officer who harrasses a boda boda or a probox driver between now and that time, will be commiting a crime.
We will not tolarate incidents where our youth are being arrested carelessly, especially during this festive season. It is so bad to see them sleeping in police cells for no good reason.,” said Raila. In November 2018, Interior CS Fred Matiang’i and his transport counterpart James Macharia had ordered all boda boda operators to seek compliance by February 2019. Matiang’i warned that any operator who will not be be in sync with the traffic laws will be arrested and his operating license withheld.
The duo also banned the use of probox vehicles for public transport citing that they were unfit. The CSs, however, later extended the grace period to May 2019 to give room for more consultation between stakeholders. “We recognise reforms are meant to be helpful, not stressful, therefore, these constructive conversations between the government and the boda boda fraternity are encouraged until we find a sustainable solution to the challenges,” they said.
The operators in the sector have, however, raised concern that the police are effecting the new guidelines before they are signed into law.