Political goons and phone theft have emerged as among the biggest security headaches for the police, with the two sets of crime converging at the same intersection – the bodaboda sector.
On Thursday, senior police officers in Nairobi held a meeting with more than 100 bodaboda association leaders at the Police Pavillion in South C.
Led by Nairobi Regional Commander Issa Mohamud, the police bosses put it to the associations’ leaders that their member riders are key transport and mobilisation channels for goons hired by politicians.
Recently, goons hired by politicians have assaulted, robbed and harassed members of the public during rallies and other events, while looting businesses in their path.
Political events in Nairobi, Kiambu, Nyeri, Nyandarua, Murang’a, Meru, Bungoma, Nakuru, Kakamega, Homa Bay, Kisumu, Kisii, Narok and Vihiga have over the past year been interrupted by goons, who at times have attacked even clergy and congregation on days that politicians were to attend church services.
In the phone theft sector of the criminal underworld, police have effected multiple arrests which have led to the recovery of hundreds of mobile phone handsets, some of which have since been returned to their owners after verification and recording of particulars of their details.
Mobile phones, tablets, laptops and gas cylinders recovered by police during an operation in Nairobi are displayed at Industrial Area Police Station on September 22, 2026.
Photo credit: Lucy Wanjiru | Nation
Nairobi Regional Commander Mr Mohamud told the Nation that the meeting was part of the police strategy to “eliminate criminal elements from the bodaboda sector”.
“The meeting was very fruitful. We have discussed how the saccos will self-regulate and also help us deal with criminals on motorbikes,” Mr Mohamud said.
Mr Mohamud on Thursday said that the meeting with leaders of bodaboda association was part of an effort by his team to take proactive action in curbing crimes that have started to redefine Nairobi and its security status.
During the meeting, police also put it to the associations’ leaders that bodaboda riders were at the centre of many phone theft and other violent robbery incidents in the city, either as the snatchers or as the getaway.
The associations’ leaders denied the claims that their members were engaged in the two sets of crimes, insisting that their members are taking the flak for criminals who use motorcycles for illegal activities.
The meeting was part of attempts by police to find other solutions to nipping the two sets in the bud, especially in relation to goons as the country inches closer to campaigns for the 2027 General Election.
Other than ferrying goons to and from political events, and being getaways for robbers, bodabodas have come under scrutiny after being at the centre of multiple murders in which shooters escaped on two wheels.
The Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud addresses journalists at Industrial Area Police Station on September 22, 2026 during a briefing on crime incidents and the recovery of mobile phones and other suspected stolen items in an operation.
Photo credit: Lucy Wanjiru | Nation
Last month, a bodaboda rider based in Pangani told investigators that he was paid to ferry police officer Julius Cheruiyot to Magadi road on September 9, 2025 as part of a plot to killing 65-year-old lawyer Kyalo Mbobu.
That witness rider is assisting police with investigations after being arrested alongside other bodaboda operators who are suspected to have participated in the murder of researcher Victoria Mutiso on July 29.
The Thursday meeting in South C resolved that bodaboda associations will regularly volunteer to police any information regarding their members who are involved in criminal activities.
The meeting further agreed that leaders of the bodaboda riders will also help the police by providing details of motorcycles that are used by phone snatcher and other criminals.
The association leaders also took the chance to confront police about corruption allegedly initiated by rogue police officers, who demand for bribes and at times arbitrarily arrest bodaboda riders.
This issue, which formed one of the heated sessions of the meeting, concluded that station commanders (OCS) will deal with officers who demand for bribes from bodaboda riders.
