NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 13 — The Independent Medico Legal Unit (IMLU) has lauded the suspension of a nationwide police crackdown on boda boda operators condemning blanket condemnation by the State that led to “unnecessary violence”.
The National Police Service halted the operation mandated by President Uhuru Kenyatta citing ongoing consultations with stakeholders.
The crackdown was instituted in response to an incident on Forest Road in Nairobi, where a gang of boda boda operators molested a female motorist.
“It’s punitive nature and collective punishment approach is completely against the
philosophy of policing provided for in the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and the National Police Service Act 2011,” IMLU said in a statement to newsrooms on Sunday.
“It has led to unnecessary violence, injuries, and opened avenues of extortion
and corruption, leave alone the loss of business for those who are in compliance with the legal requirements,” IMLU’s statement added.
The lobby urged two levels of government to recognize the role of community policing in addressing issues citing undeniable evidence for effective policing where police station commanders have formed Community Policing Units.
The community policing approach has been accepted by policing committees and discovered long-term answers to this lawlessness and contempt for the rule of law.
“We call upon the Inspector General of Police to ensure that his commanders across the over 1350 police stations apply community policing principles in dealing with this issue. Starting with convening meetings of the leadership of boda boda operators in their station jurisdiction and holding meaningful dialogue on how to implement the policy guidelines in the next 60 days,” IMLU stated.
As a reminder to the national and local governments, IMLU stated that security and safety concerns are mostly local, that one size does not fit all across the 47 counties.
