This archive report was first published on 28 September 2019.
On Thursday evening, a police operation in Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD) led to the impounding of hundreds of motorcycles, sparking protests from motorcyclists.
The operation, which continued into Friday afternoon, resulted in running battles between the motorcyclists and police, with some motorcyclists throwing stones at the Central police station.
According to the police, the motorcyclists were protesting the use of excessive force and the indiscriminate impounding of their motorcycles.
On Friday morning, teargas was used to disperse a group of boda boda operators who had gathered at the Central police station to demand the release of their motorcycles.
“Several members’ motorcycles have been impounded by the police and some of our members are in hospital after they were beaten up by the police,” said Thomas Lesatin, the Chairman of the boda boda umbrella body.
Lesatin claimed that a group of rowdy motorcyclists, not registered under their body, got involved in a scuffle with the police, resulting in the crackdown.
However, the police denied the claims, stating that they were following the dictates of the county by-laws that prohibit the use of boda bodas within the CBD.
Central Police Station OCPD, Stanley Atavachi, vowed that the operation would continue, saying, “My officers have arrested motorcyclists operating in the CBD. This operation will continue until they tow the line.”
