No easy ride for boda boda after Nairobi Councty government ban

By HUDSON GUMBIHI

The county government has stuck to its guns that boda boda operators must leave the CBD.

The riders have resisted the decision to eject them, engaging council askaris in cat-and-mouse games in the past weeks.

They claim they are entitled to operate in the CDB, accusing the county government of frustrating their small transport businesses.

On August 13, the askaris arrested 17 of them and seized their motorbikes.

The operators had defied the out-of-bounds directive, dropping and picking passengers from the CBD as usual. They were fined Sh2,000 each.

“They have to go out of the CBD. Those who defy will not be tolerated,” Hillary Wambugu, the director of Inspectorate Department, said.

Some of the operators have, however, taken a cautious approach, avoiding the CDB altogether. “Things are now difficult, one has to be careful. There is no need of going to town because of the askaris,” said a rider, who has opted to operate from City Stadium.

Governor Evans Kidero last month ordered the inspectorate department to ensure boda boda operators are kicked out of the CDB.

The directive has largely been ignored by the operators who are pulling all tricks possible to remain in town.