By Betty Luke
Bodaboda operators in Isiolo have lamented increasing cases of motorbike thefts within the county saying the crime was impoverishing them.
Led by the county’s Boda Boda Association Chairperson Moses Miriti, the riders said there was an urgent need for the security agencies to heighten measures to curb the crime as well as attacks on their members.
“Many of the calls I receive from my members are alerts of stolen motorbikes. A day can hardly pass without a single case being reported. Losing a motorbike is a blow to our livelihoods,” Mr Miriti told journalists in Isiolo town.
While responding to a promise by Isiolo Governor Abdi Ibrahim Hassan to install CCTV cameras in Isiolo town to curb theft, the official said his members must be consulted before the decision is effected to help in identification of the hotspot areas.
“We appreciate the idea of installing cameras but we want to be fully involved in the implementation process because we are the people mainly affected by insecurity within town,” he said.
A rider Hadijah Abdi said female riders bore the biggest brunt of the attacks and emphasized on the need to beef up security especially at night.
“Majority of us (women) if attacked especially in the remote parts of the county, choose to surrender our bikes willingly for fear of physical abuse,”she said.
Boda Boda Safety Association of Kenya (BAK) Secretary General Nehemiah Kiwa said the organization had collaborated with Watu Credit in fitting all the motorbikes with trackers to aid in their monitoring incase of theft.
He said every rider across would be issued with a unique identification number in efforts to weed out rogue people in the sector.
“We will also undertake a nationwide registration exercise through the county associations so that we have a database of all the operators,” he said.
The leaders spoke during a safety and economic empowerment exercise in Isiolo town where more than Sh4 million was raised to support the sector that contributes over three percent of Kenyan’s GDP.
The money, Mr Miriti said, would support riders undertake various income generating projects for increased income.
BAK President Kelvin Mubadi called on the riders to coexist peacefully amongst themselves and the local community members, saying the operators stood to lose in event of any form of instability.
“A peaceful society ensures motorbike business thrives. Protests and other forms of instability makes us lose our livelihood,” he said.
Other leaders present at the event held at Isiolo town police grounds were Isiolo North MP Joseph Samal, Wabera MCA Salesio Kiambi and other stakeholders.
