Following Wednesday’s bus attack in Mandera, the government
has stepped in to beef up security in the area and part of it includes banning operations
of all motorcyclists past 6pm.
This is because it was established that some of them were
involved in terrorist networks.
Commissioner Nakoru stated that the directive would mainly
affect motorcyclists who work along the Kenya-Ethiopia-Somalia border.
“We have established from our conclusive year-long
investigations carried out on the conduct of boda-boda operators that they
greatly aid the escalation in drug trafficking and terrorism activities. We,
therefore, issue a ban on their operation past 6pm,” he said.
Further, all buses plying routes in North Eastern Kenya will
have police escort.
Four passengers were killed and several others injured after
suspected Al-Shabaab militants attacked a bus at Banisa, Mandera County on
Wednesday.
The Moyale Raha bus was heading to Nairobi from Mandera.
The bus is said to have left Mandera in the morning and was
attacked at around 10am.
According to witnesses, the gunmen tried to stop the bus but
the driver sped off prompting the gunmen to shoot at the tyres.
Some passengers escaped from the scene.
The militants have in the past months been roaming in the
area leaving a trail of destruction.