NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 13 — The Independent Medico Legal Unit (IMLU) has urged the government to adopt localized approaches in dealing with security matters, including concerns of rogue boda boda operators, in order to spare innocent people collective punishment.
IMLU made the appeal in a statement released on Sunday.
“As the government goes back to the drawing board on how to deal firmly and resolutely with the criminality and disregard of the rule of law in this sector, we would like to remind the National and County governments that security and safety issues are local,” IMLU Executive Director Peter Kiama said.
“One size does not fit all in looking for solutions to security and safety across the 47 counties,” he added.
IMPLU’s statement was in response to the operation that was set off by the assault of a female driver along Forest Road by some rogue boda boda operators.
The government has since suspended the nationwide operation which was condemned for targeting bora bora riders indiscriminately regardless of whether or not they bore criminal record.
IMLU urged Inspector General of Police to utilize community policing concepts by calling meetings of boda boda operators’ leadership within their jurisdiction and engaging in meaningful discourse about how to put the policy principles into practice.
“There is incontrovertible evidence across the country that where police station commanders have established Community Policing Committees and Forums or embraced the community policing philosophy, they have found sustainable solutions to this criminality and disregard of the rule of law,” IMLU said in a press statement.
“The harsh nature of the policy and the use of collective punishment go completely against the policing ethos outlined in the Kenyan Constitution of 2010 and the National Police Service Act of 2011,” it added.
“It has resulted in unnecessary conflict, fatalities, and opportunities for extortion and corruption, not to mention the loss of business for those who follow the law.”
IMLU went on to remind the government that one mistake does not define the whole boda boda sector in the 47 counties.
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