Nairobi County Government: We are not harassing Boda Boda

Nairobi, Kenya: Nairobi County Government has refuted claims that they have been harassing boda boda operators in the Central Business District (CBD).

The legal committee has said the county executive has been enforcing orders without bullying the boda boda operators.

The committee chairman Jaffer Kassam told the House yesterday that the boda boda operators were banned from operating in the city centre because they have been a nuisance.

"They were banned through executive orders and operations to remove them and prevent them from coming to the CBD have been going on," stated Kassam.

Kassam said the operators have been riding on the wrong sides, flowerbeds and pavements.

Last year nominated county representative, Leah Mumo claimed in the House that county askaris were harassing the operators.

She claimed the city inspectorate officers were charging exorbitant fines and confiscating their motorbikes.

Kassam however, said the determination of fines is under the courts to prefer the penalty on the charges laid upon an operator and not under the arresting officers.

Last year, Highrise ward representative Maurice Akuk, sponsored a motion seeking the ban of boda bodas and tuk tuks from operating in the CBD but the motion was floored.

The inspectorate department has requested for support from the political arm in order to restore order within the city centre and avoid situations that have been experienced in cities like Kampala in Uganda.

The county assembly will discuss a move to pass and enact new laws to govern the operations of the boda bodas in the capital.