Murkomen, Omollo Push for Tough Boda Boda Reforms, Hint at CBD Ban

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has urged boda boda operators in the country to form Saccos, saying this is the most effective way to streamline the rapidly expanding sector and ensure order in the country.

According to Murkomen, the industry cannot be regulated by the police alone, acknowledging the important role they play in other areas.

Speaking on Monday, September 16, 2025, during a state of security interview with a local media station, Murkomen emphasized the need for urgent reforms to bring order to the industry.

“We must confront the challenge of regulating our boda boda sector,” Murkomen said.

He adds, “A few rogue elements are tarnishing a multibillion-shilling industry by using it as a cover to commit crimes, giving the entire sector a bad name.

His remarks come in the wake of the killing of Advocate Kyalo Mbobu, who was shot dead by an assassin riding a motorcycle on September 9, 2025, while driving home.

He added that many murders witnessed in most of our towns and cities in the country are mostly committed by individuals riding on boda boda and fleeing away from the scene.

Murkomen argued that such incidents could have been prevented if the boda boda sector were properly regulated and controlled in small groups.

The CS stated that it will be easier for the sector to manage the small units if they are organized in groups and Saccos.

“If we leave regulation solely to the police, they cannot cope with the sheer number of boda bodas in the country. We must streamline the sector by organizing it into smaller and manageable units,” Murkomen stated.

Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, who had accompanied the CS for the interview, signalled that boda boda may soon be barred from operating within Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), citing ongoing discussions on how to regulate the sector.

Omollo said the government was keen on ensuring order in the city centre, even as it acknowledged the important role played by boda boda in other areas.

“We recognize the boda boda sector as a vital driver of job creation and an essential link in easing transport for millions of Kenyans,” Omollo said.

The PS, however, said that without proper regulation, the sector can present security and safety challenges.

Therefore, the ministry is engaging County Governments and key stakeholders, particularly in Nairobi, to develop clear frameworks that will guide boda boda operations, especially in terms of time and designated spaces.

“I cannot give a timeline of when this regulation of boda boda will start, but we are already engaging with the county governments and key stakeholders in the CBD for clear frameworks guiding the operations of the boda boda,” Omollo said.