32 suspects to be charged over female motorist assault
Boda-boda riders on Kimathi Street, Nairobi, last October. A shocking video doing the rounds on social media of a boda boda gang assaulting a female motorist in broad daylight on Prof Wangari Maathai Road, Nairobi.
Police have arrested over 200 riders in Nairobi Central Business District as the crack down on the sector intensifies following sexual assault of female motorist along Wangari Maathai road, Police Inspector General Hillary Mutyambai says.
This comes even Police Spokesperson Bruno Shioso confirmed that an additional 16 suspects have been arrested with 7 more motorbikes impounded over the assault of female motorist in Nairobi.
"We shall be arraigning these suspects in court today," Mr Shioso said.
Joshua Omukatta, the Nairobi Area traffic Commandant also said the 16 were arrested in connection to the Friday incident and have been handed to DCI Parklands for interrogation.
"We have also arrested 37 others separately for violating normal traffic rules. They shall be arraigned in court this morning," Mr Omukatta said.
Police are hunting for all riders who were caught on camera assaulting the woman in a bid to have them prosecuted in court.
Ag Nairobi Regional Commander James Mugera said the operation began Monday evening and will continue until nomalcy haa returned on the roads.
"Kenya is a nation led by the rule of law and we will not allow a few wayward elements to disturb peace," said Mr Mugera.
The impounded mortobikes will be subjected to normal checks before they are released to their owners while the riders will be vetted and charged in court.
In a bid to streamline the boda boda sector in Nairobi, Mr Mugera said they are working with the Nairobi Metropolitan Services and National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to restructure boda boda operations and weed out criminal elements within their members.
Riders who ride on walkways, parking lots and within the undesignated routes will also be targeted. Additionally, those who are not registered in the Boda boda Information Management System will be deemed as operating illegally.
Riders whose details are captured in the system are issued with unique identifiers for their mortobikes and badges for identification.
Several government agencies and Human Rights bodies have condemned the act and pledged to assist the woman get psycho-social support and witness protection as investigations into the matter proceed.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights chairperson Roselune Odede called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to give a directive on regulation of the sector and the importance of safeguarding human rights and the rule of law at all times.
“If necessary, then a rapid response to ensure that within the shortest time possible, records of all boda boda riders are centralized, updated and verified for ease of accountability moving forward,” she said.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) pledged to support investigative agencies in nailing the culprits.
“We shall provide all the necessary support to the enforcement agencies. The authority further objurgates any form of harassment and gender based violence within the public transport sector,” Ms Dido Guyatu, Deputy Director Communications said in a statement.
