Nairobi Newly elected Governor Johnson Sakaja has made the first order to the county government after he was sworn in last week on Thursday.
In his order Sakaja has ordered the county government to release all the motorcycles that were impounded and return them to their owners.
Also in an order issued on Monday, Sakaja asked the city inspector to make official all the collecting points and dropping points in Nairobi for Boda Boda operators to prevent unnecessary conflict between the sector and the county government.
Prosecutions for motorists whose motorbikes are clamped will also apply immediately.
In July, the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Service (NMS) promised to release impounded motorcyclists after consultation with the Inspector General of Police.
NMS Director General Mohammad Badi said the bikes would be released before the August 9 general election and claimed that city police were harassing motorcyclists.
“Since taking over Nairobi, I have been working closely with the boda boda association. It is true that boda boda operators are being harassed by rude enforcement officers,” he said.
In March, former Nairobi Governor Anne Kananu Bodaboda ordered the release of the motorcycles after holding consultations with stakeholders in the sector.
Kananu issued the directive after a consultative meeting with boda boda drivers aimed at revitalizing the industry.
In her statement she said that, she had ordered the city police to release motorcycles to the owners who have been accused of petty crimes but have legal documents to operate.
Even after various orders were issued by different stakeholders for the motorbikes to be released, they were not released. As at now the Operators whose motorbikes were impounded are eagerly waiting to see if Sakaja’s order will bore fruits.
