President Uhuru Kenyatta has ordered a nationwide crackdown of all boda boda operators following the disheartening incident where rogue riders sexually assaulted a female motorist along Forest Road in Nairobi.
Describing the incident in the now viral video as disheartening to see, the head of state said that he had given instructions to the law enforcement officers to clamp down on rogue riders in the sector and ensure the perpetrators of the heinous act face the law.
“Yesterday, I did give instructions that I have ordered a crackdown on all boda boda operators, starting here in Nairobi and moving across the country,” stated the president.
President Kenyatta who was speaking during Tuesday’s International Women’s Day celebrations at the Kenya School of Government in Lower Kabete, Nairobi further stressed that all boda boda operators would be registered afresh to ensure sanity is regained in the sector.
“We are going to reregister you all again and we must make sure that we safeguard women. I have instructed the law enforcement officers to use the instruments within the law to punish these perpetrators,” stated President Kenyatta.
“There should never be a repeat of what we saw.”
President at the same time warned political divides against taking advantage of the situation and using it as a campaign agenda in their political rallies, saying that the government will support the the Bodaboda sector on condition that they are disciplined.
“We are in the silly season of politics and there are some out there who will go and start saying the government is harassing small traders and businesspeople… We want to help your business prosper but you must also do your bit,” stated the president.
In the undated video that has since gone viral, the assaulted woman can be heard screaming as the rogue male boda boda riders take off her clothes while others order that she be removed from inside the car.
The video sparked uproar on social media with netizens calling for the taming of the boda boda sector to end such heinous incidents.