The ban of boda bodas in Nairobi’s Central Business District will continue even after the release of impounded motorbikes by the Nairobi City County Government.
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko says the order to release the impounded motorbike does not in any way mean that he has allowed boda bodas back to the capital city’s CBD.
“I wish to clarity that the order to release the impounded motorbikes does not in any way mean that I have allowed boda bodas back to the streets of Nairobi CBD,” stated Sonko.
On June 1, during the Madaraka Day Celebrations, Sonko ordered the release of over 800 boda bodas that had been impounded by the Nairobi City County Government Inspectorate Department for flouting various traffic rules and operating within Nairobi’s CBD.
The Governor has also appealed to the boda boda operators who have secured the release of their motorcycles to adhere to the traffic rules, adding that any boda boda operator found within the CBD will be arrested and charged in the courts of law.
“I want all the boda boda operators in Nairobi to obey the County rules in order to maintain law and order in the capital city. I also want to urge those who have not picked their impounded motorcycles to present themselves at our General Stores Yard along Race Course Road and avail original ownership documents before they are allowed to collect their motorcycles,” he said.
Hundreds of boda boda operators are still flocking the County’s general stores Yard to pick their motorcycles without paying any fine.
Solomon Muciri, 37, from Kinangop who is among those who have successfully picked their motorbikes has thanked Governor Sonko for issuing the orders since he was required to pay at least Sh50,000 in terms of fines and storage fee to secure the release of his motorbike.
“I want to thank Governor Sonko for this kind move to release our motorcycles unconditionally. My motorbike had been detained for 6 months since I had no money to pay the huge fine and storage fees. We appreciate the order and I wish him well in his future political endeavors’,” Muciri said.
Nairobi County Inspectorate Department Director Eva Wairiuko has promised to enforce Governor Sonko’s directive on the ban of boda bodas in the CBD I order to maintain law and order in the capital city.
“I want to be clear to the boda boda operators that even if we have released their impounded motorcycles, the enforcement on the ban will continue,” warned Wairiuko.
Wairiuko has also stated that the operation routes for bosa bodas in Nairobi still remains the same.
“All boda boda operators should know that they can only operate along Uhuru Highway, University Way, Globe Cinema roundabout, Kirinyaga Road, and Haille Sellasie Avenue. That is a clear circle where they are allowed to operate. All this is aimed at making sure we decongest the CBD and maintain law and order,” she added.