Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has raised concerns about increasing insecurity tied to criminal elements entering the boda boda industry.
During his appearance before the Senate on Wednesday, he pointed to a spike in violence and disorder, especially in Nairobi, Western, and Nyanza counties.
“One of the security issues that has captured the attention of the public lately is the violence perpetrated by boda boda operators, especially torching of vehicles in road traffic accidents,” he said.
Murkomen said a coordinated effort involving multiple agencies will bring back order and accountability to the sector, which he called essential to Kenya’s transport economy.
“In our actions and undertaking, fidelity to the Constitution is always a guiding principle,” Murkomen said.
He acknowledged that while the country stays generally calm and stable, recent months have brought scattered security challenges including banditry, land disputes, and conflicts over resources.
He stressed that Senators have brought up these issues in their recent sessions.
Murkomen identified the increasing violence involving boda boda operators as one of the most urgent concerns.
He linked the rise in chaos to the sector’s explosive growth alongside weak regulation.
“The boda boda sector remains a vital pillar of Kenya’s transport economy, providing employment and livelihood for thousands of youths nationwide,” he noted.
“However, its rapid growth with minimal regulation has led to disorder, lawlessness and rising insecurity associated with unregistered and unidentified riders.”
The CS informed the Senate that the government had recently finished a tour of all 47 counties under the “Jukwaa Usalama” initiative, where they met with citizens and security stakeholders to discuss local safety issues.
“The forum revealed concerns that criminal elements have infiltrated the boda boda sector across the country. There is a complaint in almost every county,” he noted.
Murkomen said the crisis is being addressed by the government through a multiagency approach involving the National Transport and Safety Authority and county governments. The plan includes mandatory registration of all operators under SACCOs and assignment of riders to specific operational zones.
“We are working with NTSA and county governments to ensure all operators are registered under SACCOs and assigned to operation areas,” he said, adding that SACCO leaders will play a key role in enforcing discipline and reporting rogue riders.
The government also plans to integrate SACCO leadership into community policing structures to enhance intelligence gathering and accountability.
“We are exploring modalities of incorporating the leaders into community policing to enhance responsibility and aid in intelligence gathering,” Murkomen said.
CS Murkomen gave a strong warning to criminals operating within the sector, saying, “Criminal elements who masquerade as boda boda operators will be prosecuted to protect the integrity of the sector.”
He praised the Senators who have raised their voices and advanced reforms, among them being Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, whom he lauded for his continued work on the same.
The reforms seek to balance the economic benefits of the boda boda sector with public safety needs.
“To ensure the sector contributes optimally to the economy while at the same time preserving law and order, we must act decisively,” Murkomen said.
