Motorbike riders in Webuye East and West sub counties have complained of the increase in stealing of motorbikes something that is affecting their economy every day.
Talking to West Media on Misikhu market, Webuye West boda boda chairman Benard Wafula who is also organizing secretary in Bungoma county complained that for the last three months, many motorcycles have got lost especially on different markets; Misikhu, Kamukuywa, Makhese and Webuye being hot spots and have called on for security to be beefed up.
He said it is surprising to see that even motorbikes with tracking system have gone missing and the companies that are responsible for the tracking don’t help them much as they have not supported them a clear indication that tracking companies could be working in collaboration with the thieves and have called on the government to investigate the issues.
Wafula added that some riders have also lost their lives under the hands of the thugs especially when cornered and resist to give out the motorbikes and those who survive remain with serious injuries and can’t work anymore and end up failing to support their families, explaining that for the last three months they have buried more than five youths motorbike riders in Bungoma county something he says has really affected their industry which has employed thousands of youths who earn their livelihood through boda boda sector.
He adds that if these killings and stealing of motorcycles continue without them getting any support from the government especially police then they will be left with no other option but take action.
Other riders said sometimes they try and arrest the culprits only to be released by police in unclear circumstances and this again endangers their lives as the culprits will always want to pay back by killing them or injuring them with claims that nothing can be done against them and therefore continue terrorizing them.
They have also cited harassment from county reinforcement officers whom they say have been demanding a lot anytime they get their motorbike packed wrongly and at times they are harassed without mistakes and have now called on the county government to intervene that are respected too as citizens and handled with decorum because they too pay taxes.