A Nairobi resident has moved to the High Court seeking urgent orders to curb what he says is growing lawlessness, violence, and loss of life linked to poorly regulated boda boda operations in the capital.
In a petition filed before the court, Rogers Monda argues that the State has failed to meet its constitutional obligation to protect the lives, safety, dignity, and property of Nairobi residents as motorcycle-related road accidents increasingly descend into chaos.
Monda links the crisis to a surge in fatal crashes, mob violence, sexual and physical assaults, lynching, and widespread destruction of property, incidents he says often unfold in public with little or no immediate police intervention.
He has sued the Attorney-General alongside several national and county agencies, including the National Police Service, the Inspector-General of Police, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, and the Nairobi City County Government.
According to the petitioner, systemic failures in regulating and policing the boda boda sector have created a volatile environment where accidents quickly spiral into violent reprisals.
“Poor regulation and weak enforcement within the boda boda sector have created a dangerous environment in which road accidents frequently spiral into mob justice, sexual and physical assaults, lynching and arson, often in full public view and without swift police intervention,” Monda states in his court filings.
Through his application, he is asking the High Court to issue conservatory orders compelling police to immediately deploy rapid-response units to motorcycle-related accidents across Nairobi County and along major transport corridors.
He wants officers “ordered to promptly secure accident scenes, restore order, prevent mob attacks, stop destruction of property and arrest suspects without delay.”
Monda further urges the court to direct police to preserve all evidence from accident scenes, including CCTV footage and videos captured by members of the public, to strengthen accountability and improve the chances of successful prosecutions.
Beyond policing, the petitioner is seeking orders requiring NTSA and the Nairobi City County Government to roll out immediate enforcement operations targeting boda boda compliance across the city.
He lists key areas that need urgent action, including proper licensing of riders, verification of rider competence, mandatory use of helmets and reflective jackets, visible and traceable number plates, adherence to passenger limits, and valid insurance coverage.
In another far-reaching request, Monda wants the court to compel all respondents to jointly develop and submit, within 14 days, a clear, time-bound emergency operational plan to deal with motorcycle-related accidents, violence, and arson in Nairobi.
He argues that the plan should spell out coordination mechanisms, clearly defined agency roles, and accountability structures to prevent blame-shifting when incidents occur.
“Pending the hearing of the main petition, the court to order the temporary adoption of a standard operating Procedure governing motorcycle accidents and mob violence. The proposed guidelines would outline minimum police response times, command structures at accident scenes, victim protection measures, mandatory arrests and proper evidence handling,” he states.
The petitioner is also pushing for interim orders to establish an identification and accountability framework for commercial boda boda riders operating in Nairobi. He says such a system would help trace offenders, deter criminal behaviour, and protect law-abiding riders from collective punishment.
Additionally, Monda is asking the court to direct State agencies to put in place safeguards for victims and witnesses, warning that intimidation and fear often prevent people from coming forward after violent incidents.
He cautions that the situation could worsen if urgent action is not taken, especially amid threats of a public transport strike that could paralyse movement in the city and heighten tensions on already strained roads.
According to Monda, Nairobi residents face the risk of irreparable harm if the court fails to intervene, while State agencies would suffer no prejudice by being compelled to carry out their constitutional and statutory duties.
