Motorcyclists warned as crime soars

What you need to know:

  • The police commander said criminals prefer using boda bodas as they are swift and can even move into remote areas with ease.
  • His wife, Ms Winfred Soido, said the gangsters escaped on a motorbike while shooting in the air with an AK-47 rifle to scare away the public.
  • On January 21, a worker at General Cargo Limited, off Lumumba Road, was attacked after being seen leaving a bank. The gang snatched cash from the employer and fled on a motorbike.

The county has recorded 123 cases of crimes committed by gangs on motorbikes in the last one year.

County Deputy Police Commander James Kithuka warned riders who ferry robbers that they would face charges similar to the ones levelled against the criminals if arrested.

“We want them to know the kind of people they ferry. The people must tell them where they want to be taken and what they intend to do there,” he said.
“If you are caught ferrying a criminal, you will be considered an accomplice and the law will not spare you,” he added.

The police commander said criminals prefer using boda bodas as they are swift and can even move into remote areas with ease.

“The motorcyclists readily carry the criminals as they view this as a way of making quick money,” Mr Kithuka told the Nation.
A number of crimes committed by gangs on motorbikes, however, go unreported.

County Executive for Transport Tawfiq Balala said the regional government had hired a security expert, who would help in coming up with ways of dealing with the menace.

ESCAPED ON BIKES WHILE SHOOTING IN THE AIR

He said the information collected would be shared with the police.

On March 23, gunmen shot a cigarette distributor, Mr James Njenga, dead outside his shop at Majaoni in Kisauni in broad daylight.

His wife, Ms Winfred Soido, said the gangsters escaped on a motorbike while shooting in the air with an AK-47 rifle to scare away the public.

In February, business on Moi Avenue was brought to a standstill as police exchanged gunfire with three robbers who were escaping on a motorbike.
The robbers had accosted a car dealer and made away with an unknown amount of money.

On January 21, a worker at General Cargo Limited, off Lumumba Road, was attacked after being seen leaving a bank. The gang snatched cash from the employer and fled on a motorbike.

At the same time, National Transport and Safety Authority’s Mombasa Director Mathew Munyao said nine people had perished since January in boda boda accidents.
Last year, the region lost 17 people out of 391 nationally. Mr Munyao said the agency was trying to curb the deaths through legislation.

“In response, the authority has developed legislation on the operation of boda bodas. It came into force through legal notice 19 of 2015,” said the official.