Kidero kicks out boda boda operators from city centre
Nairobians can finally heave a sigh of relief after the county government banned boda bodas from the central business district.
A dispatch from the Nairobi County said the ban, which takes effect immediately, does not affect motorcycles ferrying goods.
The county also said it had not designated any parking slots in the CBD.
“Pursuant to the provisions of the Traffic Act CAP 403 of 2014 of the Laws of the Republic of Kenya, the Nairobi City County Government wishes to inform all motorcycle (boda boda) operators ferrying passengers to and from the Central Business District (CBD) that such activities have been banned with immediate effect,” read the statement.
“Any operator and passenger found contravening this law will be arrested for an offence punishable by hefty fines and long jail terms as provided for in the Traffic Act of 2014.”
The boda bodas have become a nuisance for Nairobians, some even worse than matatus. On many occasions, boda boda riders are arrested for violating traffic rules.
The riders often do not have a driver’s licence or safety gear such as helmets and reflectors.
When they are stopped by police, they take off leaving their passengers stranded. In some situations, they ride off at breakneck speeds, exposing their clients to more danger.
In Nairobi, for instance, they weave their way between cars, change lanes at will, jump traffic lights or ride at high speed on pedestrian lanes.
Other motorists have expressed growing resentment for boda bodas with many calling on authorities to ban them from particular roads altogether.
They attribute many accidents to riders, claiming that boda boda operators are unapologetic whenever accidents arise.
