By Eddah Waithaka
The Mass Mobility Operators Association (MMOA) today issued a stern warning to the government, demanding immediate action to stop a wave of vehicle torchings by rogue boda boda operators or face the consequences of operators providing their own security.
MMOA Chairman Nelson Mwangi and Secretary General Wilfred Bosire led more than 30 members of the association in condemning what they termed “state of lawlessness” on Kenyan roads.
The group condemned the government’s silence after criminals set ablaze at least three public service vehicles in the last week alone, including a bus on Thika Road valued at Ksh 6.7 million.
“We are condemning these criminal acts in the strongest terms possible,” stated Chairman Nelson Mwangi.
“These vehicles are not just machines; they are drivers of the economy. When someone sets them ablaze, they destroy the lives and livelihoods of Kenyans.”
The association expressed deep frustration at the lack of response from key security officials.
Mwangi noted that neither the Cabinet Secretary for Interior, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, nor the Inspector General of Police has publicly condemned the acts or arrested perpetrators.
“We have not seen anyone involved in setting these vehicles ablaze arrested and arraigned in court. We are at a pain, and we are wondering about the security on our roads,” Mwangi said.
Reading from a statement titled “Enough is Enough,” Secretary General Wilfred Bosire delivered a direct ultimatum to the government.
“We are giving an opportunity to the government, the Interior Ministry, to address this challenge,” Bosire declared.
“Or else, we will be left with no option but to organize as operators to have our own people provide security to our vehicles as we operate on the roads.”
Bosire vehemently dismissed any justification for the mob violence, stating that no one plans to have an accident and that Kenya has a due process for handling such incidents.
“We cannot allow mob justice. If that is the game they want, we equally have the numbers. We can touch their motorbikes if that is what they want,” Bosire said, emphasizing that the association prefers a lawful solution.
“We are telling the government to take responsibility and serve Kenyans. We cannot watch as a bus worth millions of shillings is burned to a frame by criminals.”
The MMOA called for peaceful coexistence among all road users and urged boda boda leadership to discipline their members.
They demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of all individuals involved in the recent attacks and stricter regulation of the boda boda sector to weed out criminal elements.
