Owners of detained motorbikes told to produce documents

Impounded motorbikes at Central Police Station, Nairobi. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Hundreds of boda boda riders in Nairobi who visited police stations yesterday to collect their motorcycles as ordered by Governor Johnson Sakaja were turned away for lack of crucial documents.

The new governor had directed that all the motorbikes that were confiscated by the previous county regime for flouting city laws be released to their owners immediately.

However, Central police boss David Mburukua said they could not release the motorcycles to those who claim to be the owners unless they produced ownership documents.

"The law must be followed for us to release those at the station. They must produce the documents to prove the ownership of the motorcycles," said Mburukua.

The officer said maybe the governor's directive was meant for motorbikes that were impounded by City County askaris, but those under police custody would not be released without due procedure.

It, however, emerged that even the motorbikes held at county yards were yet to be released for lack of ownership documents.

National Police Spokesman Bruno Shiosho said Sakaja's orders fall under county enforcement.

But at the city inspectorate unit that conducts boda boda crackdowns, the owners whose motorbikes were impounded were equally asked to produce copies and originals of all the ownership documents.

An officer told The Standard that this will help to keep off opportunists who would take advantage of Governor Sakaja's goodwill.

On Monday, Sakaja ordered that all the motorbikes impounded by the county government be released and given back to its owners.

"I have seen a lot of motorcycles, I want all of them to be released today to their owners. We promised them and we shall tell them their drop off and pick-up points," he said while addressing the county workers.

He said this was one the ways of restoring order in Nairobi and that boda boda riders should equally access the city centre like everyone else to earn a living.

Sakaja also asked his officers to establish suitable places where the riders can pick up and drop their customers.