Malindi: Boda boda riders arrested after colleague is caught on tape clobbering, stoning police officer

By Daniel Wekesa

Several boda boda riders in Malindi Town, Kilifi County have been arrested in a crackdown to smoke out unruly operators who were caught on tape stoning police officers on Tuesday, April 14.

Video clips doing the rounds on social media show one boda boda operator resisting arrest as a uniformed police officer attempts to wrestle him to the ground. The incident happened at BP area in Malindi Town.

After overpowering the police officer, the boda boda rider is joined by his colleagues who stone the cop who had retreated to his vehicle, a Toyota Probox.

The stoning went on endlessly, prompting the police officer and Malindi Sub-County Traffic Base Commander, George Naibei, who was with him, to speed off. The Toyota Probox windscreen was destroyed in the attack.

Malindi Sub-County Police Commander, Vitalis Otieno, confirmed the incident, saying Naibei and his colleagues, who sustained minor injuries, were taken to hospital, where they were treated and discharged.

Otieno said Naibei and team were on regular patrol, when they spotted the boda boda riders at BP area flouting directives put in place to avert the spread of coronavirus. Some of the directives the government issued to govern operations in the boda boda sector include requiring riders and passengers to always wear face masks, and directing operators to carry only one passenger per trip.

“When the law enforcement officers attempted to arrest some of the riders who breached the anti-coronavirus measures, the operators became unruly and started stoning our officers and other motorists,” said Otieno.

The Malindi police boss stated that following the incident, a crackdown was launched to smoke out the “wild” operators.

“Several boda boda riders have been arrested and their motorcycles impounded. Those in our custody, will be taken to court,” he said.

The boda boda riders, on their part, accused police of harassing them and demanding bribes.

This comes two weeks after police in Malindi impounded at least 900 motorcycles after operators flouted the 7pm to 5am curfew that was implemented on March 25.