The boda boda sector has become one of the fastest-growing industries in Kenya, providing essential services to millions of citizens every day.
Riders offer quick and affordable transport in traffic-congested cities and play a critical role during emergencies, such as rushing patients to hospitals.
Yet, with this rapid growth has come a rise in lawlessness and insecurity. Some boda boda riders have been implicated in violent crimes, including mugging, robbery, and even politically motivated assassinations.
Others have taken the law into their own hands, resorting to mob justice when accidents occur.
Rising Incidents of Violence within the Boda Boda Sector
Over the past few months, several incidents involving boda boda riders have raised alarm:
- August 7, 2025 – Donholm/Jogoo Road, Nairobi: Riders torched a City Shuttle bus after it knocked down and killed a rider.
- August 16, 2025 – Thika Superhighway, Kiambu County: A breakdown truck driving on the wrong lane rammed into riders, killing one. In retaliation, riders set the vehicle ablaze, causing a major traffic snarl-up.
- September 1, 2025 – Juja, Kiambu County: A Super Metro bus allegedly knocked down a rider. Riders descended on it and burned it to ashes.
- September 7, 2025 – Thika Town, Kiambu County: An Audi A3 driven by a DCI officer rear-ended a boda boda, killing two. When riders pursued him, the officer shot two more dead. Riders retaliated by torching the vehicle.
Beyond mob justice, criminal gangs and hired assassins are increasingly using motorbikes to execute drive-by shootings. On September 9, 2025, prominent Nairobi lawyer Mathew Kyalo Mbobu was killed in a motorcycle attack along Magadi Road in Karen. Earlier, on April 30, 2025, former Kasipul MP Charles Were was shot dead in a similar fashion along Ngong Road.
These incidents highlight how unregulated operations in the sector can threaten public safety and undermine community trust.
Murkomen Orders Nationwide Crackdown on Rogue Boda Boda Riders
Speaking in Kisii County on September 12, 2025, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen acknowledged that boda bodas have been exploited for criminal purposes, including political violence.
“Some of these boda boda groups are being used to harass, beat, and torture people. To address this, a major crackdown will be conducted with the support of national security officers working alongside county security teams,” Murkomen said.
Also Read: Boda Boda Riders to Wear Uniforms, Get Unique Registration Numbers Under New Rules
He further directed police to collaborate with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to enforce proper licensing and ensure that riders comply with the law.
“We want the boda boda sector to be regulated independently of political interference,” Murkomen added.
He stressed that NTSA must punish rogue operators while protecting genuine riders.
Licensing Reforms
In 2018, the National Crime Research Centre (NCRC) published a report recommending a series of reforms to restore order in the boda boda sector.
The report stressed the need for county-specific uniforms and identification numbers to make riders easily recognizable within their areas of operation.
It also proposed fresh registration processes that would tie every rider to a specific zone, ensuring better monitoring and accountability.
To strengthen organization, the NCRC called for mandatory membership in Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs), which would help enforce discipline and promote financial stability among riders.
The report further recommended that each boda boda stage should have a chairperson responsible for the conduct of riders operating from that stage, introducing leadership and oversight at the grassroots level.
In addition, the report underscored the importance of proper documentation. Riders would be required to maintain valid licenses, insurance cover, and certificates of good conduct as proof of compliance with the law.
According to the NCRC, implementing these measures would streamline operations, curb infiltration by criminal gangs, and create strong accountability structures within the industry.
Enhancing Community Security
Beyond reforms, boda boda riders themselves can play a proactive role in strengthening community security. According to the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA), their constant presence in neighborhoods positions them as vital partners in crime prevention.
Also Read: Kenyan Drivers Angry Over Boda Boda Riders Harassment and Attacks
Some key strategies include:
- Participating in security forums such as Nyumba Kumi to share intelligence and collaborate with police.
- Leveraging technology, including GPS trackers, mobile reporting apps, and biometric IDs, to monitor activities and weed out rogue riders.
- Training programs through associations like the Kenya Boda Boda Association (KBA), focusing on security awareness, violence prevention, and professionalism.
- Self-regulation through SACCOs, mandatory registration, and compliance with county by-laws to maintain discipline and curb mob justice.
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