A Community Based Organization (CBO) in Kwale County has embarked on a plan to issue special serial numbers to motorcyclists’ operators (Boda Boda) in a new effort to fight crime and insecurity in the county.
The issuance of the serial numbers is a new move which is expected to bring sanity to the increasing motor transport business getting new challenges every moment.
The number is acquired once riders register as members of the CBO and their details including those of the motorcycles like models, registration numbers and identification numbers are registered.
Several times, the riders have been accused of working in organized crimes, and with the industry inadequately regulated hence spurring recklessness and impunity among operators
In Kwale for example boda bodas they have also been accused of illegally ferrying criminal gangs after their robbery and murder activities.
Kwale County Bodaboda CBO Chairperson Nehemiah Kinywa however said the registration of the members this will not only help sanitize the industry but also help them reap benefits from local and national government projects.
“Once you have a registration number as a member, it will make it easy for those involved in crime to be traced. It is also an opportunity to prove that not all boda boda operators are criminals,” he said.
He said several times, boda boda riders have been wrongfully accused of aiding criminals.
“Once you have a membership number, if you are accidentally arrested and being accused of being a thief, it is possible for me to defend you as a member,” he said.
Adding that “It will be even more easy to tell if a motorcycle involved in criminal activities belonged to one of our members,”
Mr Kinywa told journalists in Kwale town that tracking motorcycles, now a popular means of transport in rural and urban areas was a major problem because of lack of a proper data system to account for the fast growing industry.
“As registered members, the registration will enable the riders to gain other benefits which include the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), acquiring licenses, affordable loans and assistance after road accidents,” he added.
More than 4,000 boda boda riders have already been registered with the CBO which is at least targeting about 50,000 members from Kinango, Lungalunga, Matuga and Msambweni sub counties.
“We are also registered under the Boda Boda Safety Association of Kenya which means that we can easily solve the challenges that we have,” he said.
Apart from registration, boda bodas will also be provided with safety gears and reflectors for their protection.
Thousands of boda boda operators in towns and villages have been struggling to break through from the notion that they habour criminals a situation that has been giving them sleepless nights.
There is also another believe that the same operators are eloping with school girls or involved in road accidents.
“Our members have been blamed for the increasing cases of teen pregnancy with some of them accused of luring schoolgirls with money to buy sanitary towels. But while there can be some truths in it, it is not the face of this industry but isolated cases that the government can address,” he said.
