Over the past few weeks, news of rogue boda boda operators burning matatus and cars have embarrassingly become commonplace in Kenya. Matatu operators and owners have now said ‘enough is enough’ and begun their highly-disruptive, nationwide strikes on Monday, February 2nd, 2025.
- •In November last year, a 33-seater bus was burned near Mama Lucy Hospital after the bus reportedly knocked over and killed a boda boda rider. Since then, several other lawless torchings have taken place across Nairobi, enraging an industry that’s estimated to be worth over KSh 250Bn.
- •Torchings have not been exclusive to matatus as numerous incidents of personal cars being burned and drivers beaten - this follows a persistent trend of mob justice which has stressed Kenya for decades.
- •According to industry insiders, less than 10% of boda bodas are registered on platforms like Bolt while the vast majority of mob justice torchings are being committed by non-platformed riders.
Matatu Owners Association (MOA) Chairman Albert Karakacha recently called out the government, police, and security agencies for failing to hold law breakers accountable for their actions in light of a rapid increase in the number of mob justice torchings across the country. Many matatu operators and owners now feel that they must take the law into their own hands to protect themselves, their property, and the lives of their passengers.
In light of this, Matatu owners and operators withdrew services on Monday, February 2nd until reforms are made to protect them from incidents of mob justice by boda boda “gangs.” Reports have been made that Matatus intend on blocking major highways and transportation routes, however the extent of the strike and sector’s participation are not fully clear.
Who’s to blame for the torchings?
Now, everyone who has been to Nairobi knows that the worst drivers on the road are boda bodas and matatus. While the transportation industry is not perfectly safe, unlike boda bodas, matatus are regulated and must abide by SACCO guidelines in order to operate.
There is a reason boda boda riders have their own wards in Nairobi hospitals, and entire parking lots at police stations have wrecked motorcycles. More often than not, accidents involving bodas happen because of their own failure to obey traffic laws/patterns/norms, zipping between moving traffic at high speeds, and complete disregard for their own safety.
I am not blaming bodas for all accidents (because Kenya also has some absolutely horrible drivers on the roads too) but this trend of ‘it’s always the car/matatu’s fault’ is simply false. If Kenya is to become Singapore, then action should be taken against rogue boda bodas who feel they can use even a small incident to ignite cars and assault their own fellow citizens.
According to the statements made by matatu industry leaders, blame is not being passed directly to boda bodas for these incidents, rather, owners and operators are citing the government’s inaction surrounding the issue as the reason for the wider industry strike.
What’s the solution?
While many would say solving the problem is simple - the government and NPS should do more - there are other options on the table for quashing boda boda recklessness.
Leveraging a multi-faceted approach bringing together government, police, and ride-hailing apps such as Bolt can play a big role in helping put an end to this enduring problem.
Looking back at 2004, the late minister John Michuki implemented strict rules and reforms that revolutionized the matatu industry and leveraged SACCO involvement in the industry to help enforce compliance measures and further safety protocols. While the enforcement of many of the late minister’s reforms is questionable today, it is undeniable that his sweeping reforms made a positive impact on what was a ‘rogue industry’ at the time with impacts that can still be felt today.
Kenya now sits in a familiar position - an epidemic of Nduthi “men” who feel they own the road and can blatantly evade all consequences.
Ride-hailing technology providers such as Bolt can help provide a solution. Forcing profit-driven boda bodas to register with ride-hailing companies can have the same impact that forcing matatus to join SACCO’s did - by delegating part of the responsibility of compliance.
What does this mean?
Bolt and other ride-hailing companies must uphold certain standards and have protocols in place to ensure customer safety, brand image, and public relations. These companies do not have the luxury of allowing rogue Nduthis to wreak havoc on their platforms without consequence and accountability.
While it is the government’s responsibility to enforce the law, requiring profit-driven boda bodas to register with platforms not only expands the responsibility of accountability, but it also provides a data-driven solution to identifying culprits of crime more effectively than the enforcement we see on roads today.
What matatu owners and operators are most aggravated by is the lack of accountability for incidents - as simple as, if a bus is burned, who should pay for the damages? Incidents must be thoroughly investigated and those at fault should take responsibility for their actions. By registering all boda bodas on ride-hailing platforms and creating policy around how public and private sector players cooperate to respond to issues, there is an opportunity to better respond and keep the roads safe for every road user.
