The Western Regional Security team has strengthened partnership with the bodaboda riders to improve on enforcing security.
Western Regional Commissioner Irungu Macharia said the bodaboda sector is an important stakeholder in security matters since it has a wide network that reaches all parts of the region.
Macharia said bodaboda riders have vital information from the grassroots where they operate, which can be used by the security agencies to respond to a security threat.
The Regional Commissioner was addressing the media after meeting with the chairpersons of the bodaboda riders from the western region counties of Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia and Vihiga.
He said the bodaboda leadership will be incorporated in the security committees from the sub-location up to the regional level.
The bodaboda leadership welcomed the partnership, promising to support the government in delivering its mandate while participating in enhancing security.
They agreed that they will be operating from 5 in the morning and closing by the latest 11 at night to give time for police officers to patrol and enhance security.
Those who will operate from 11pm will be monitored closely with an exception of bodaboda riders registered under the ‘Usiku Sacco’ who operate at night.
The Usiku Sacco, however, will inform the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) of where they are operating from and where they are heading to and will be in contact with their chairpersons and the police all times.
Speaking on behalf of the Regional and County chairperson, the National Executive Chairman of the Bodaboda Safety Association of Kenya, Kevin Mubadi, said the bodaboda sector will support in reporting cases they spot to the police.
He said the sector has faced challenges where bodaboda riders have fallen victim to robbery and even murder.
As a result, he noted that they have scaled up registration of bodaboda riders to ensure that those who pose as riders to commit crimes are exposed.
“We must work together so that we can be able to coordinate and share information from one point to another. We are going to support the government of the day to ensure that they deliver on their mandate and we also ask the government to also support us as we go on with our duties,” he said.
By Moses Wekesa
