Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced a crackdown targeting boda boda gangs and drug traffickers in Vihiga County, warning that growing criminal networks threaten the peace and safety of the region.
Speaking during a security baraza at Jukwaa la Usalama in Vihiga on September 6, Murkomen said the county, despite being one of the more peaceful in Western Kenya, faces a rising tide of marijuana use and an emerging culture of violent motorcycle gangs.
“Though Vihiga remains relatively secure, drug abuse and the normalization of marijuana use are leading to rising mental health cases,” Murkomen said.
“Security operations alone will not solve this. We need a whole-of-society approach.”
Murkomen said that while marijuana is not produced locally, the county remains a major consumer hub, supplied by traffickers from neighboring regions.
The government will prioritize arresting and prosecuting these traffickers as part of a broader effort against illicit alcohol and drug networks.
Crackdown on Boda Boda Gangs
He also noted that the boda boda gangs, groups of rogue motorcyclists who have increasingly been involved in traffic disruptions, funeral invasions, and robberies, pose a growing security threat.
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“These groups will be among our main targets in the coming crackdown,” he said. “We will not allow this culture to entrench itself and evolve into more organized criminal networks.”
Murkomen directed county and national government administration officers to step up community sensitization forums (barazas) to combat harmful perceptions around drug use and to promote public awareness.
“Drug and substance abuse fuels defilement, murder, gender-based violence, and social breakdown,” he added. “We must address the root causes.”
The crackdown is part of a nationwide strategy by the Ministry of Interior to restore order and fight rising crime linked to drug and gang activity across Kenya.
Boda Boda Association Condemns Violence
The Boda Boda Safety Association of Kenya (BAK) issued a condemnation of recent violent incidents involving motorcycle taxi operators.
In a statement released September 7, BAK said it was “deeply concerned” by reports of vehicles being attacked and set ablaze after traffic accidents, incidents allegedly involving individuals posing as boda boda operators.
“These acts of violence do not represent the values, principles, or conduct of genuine boda boda operators,” said Kevin B. Mubadi, national executive chairman and president of BAK. “We are committed to peace, safety, and lawful conduct.”
The association, which represents commercial motorcycle riders across all 47 counties in Kenya, said criminal-minded individuals, many of whom are not registered riders, have infiltrated the sector and contributed to lawlessness on the roads.
“The boda boda industry remains a pillar of Kenya’s transport system and a source of livelihood for thousands of families,” Mubadi said. “We will not allow a few misguided individuals to soil the reputation of our sector.”
The association called on all riders to uphold discipline and continue being responsible players in the country’s transport industry.
Matatu Torched in Vihiga
A road accident in Luanda Town, Vihiga County, sparked violent protests after a boda boda rider was fatally struck by a matatu.
The incident occurred mid-morning on September 6 along the Kisumu-Busia highway, where witnesses say the motorcyclist died on the spot after being hit by a 14-seater public service vehicle.
The collision immediately drew a crowd of outraged residents.
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In response, members of the public set the matatu ablaze, blaming the driver for the fatal crash.
Protesters later barricaded the busy highway and lit bonfires, causing a temporary disruption of traffic through the township.
A fire engine dispatched by the Vihiga County Government reportedly veered off the road and plunged into a ditch while attempting to reach the scene. No injuries were reported from that incident.
Local police attempted to manage the situation, but tensions remained high as boda boda riders accused the matatu driver of deliberately hitting their colleague.
Images and videos circulated on social media showed thick smoke billowing from the burning vehicle, as a large crowd looked on from a distance.
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