Drama is developing after the police failed to execute Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja’s order to release all impounded motorbikes in the city.
Governor Sakaja had given the order, viewed as populist, in his first address to county council workers since being elected. The order was received with mixed feelings, with critics arguing that his mandate as Nairobi governor doesn’t extend to the police.
Enthusiastic Boda boda riders who visited the Central Police Station to demand their impounded motorbikes on Tuesday, August 30 were turned away as the police demanded relevant clearance documents before releasing the bikes.
In explaining their reasons for the non-issuance of the bikes, the police maintained that, Sakaja issued orders to the county askaris, and not the police. This is because the police had a clear channel that ought to be followed.
“Riders must release documents to show that they are the owners of the motorbikes, the law has to be expressly followed,” Mburukua stated.
Police Spokesperson, Bruno Shioso, was also said to have reiterated that the orders issued by Nairobi’s new governor do not fall under the national government and thus cannot be hurriedly executed without following the due procedures.
Police at the Jacaranda grounds, Nairobi
The riders had hoped to receive their bikes following the executive order issued on Monday, August 29, with many lamenting that they were forced to settle for menial jobs after losing their sources of daily income.
The county government is yet to respond to the police, but political analysts argue that Sakaja ought to act faster to solve the crisis.
While issuing the executive order, a few days after he was sworn into office, Sakaja noted that he had liaised with various stakeholders to ensure law and order prevailed in the city.
He also expressly noted that the bikes impounded by the county government to be released to the owners and all cases regarding them withdrawn with immediate effect.
Sakaja further asked the City Inspectorate unit to also identify official drop-off and pick-up points for boda boda riders within the Central Business District (CBD).
