When, about twenty years ago, the first economical motorcycles, the Indian Bajaj and the Chinese Haojin, arrived in Kenya, it was thought that some Kenyans would be able to improve their standard of living, that certain distances between villages and accommodation facilities would be reduced and also the prices of transporting materials and products, given the lower consumption of fuel. It was also felt that traffic would not be particularly affected and that for the classic boda-boda, the name then used for bicycle cabs, the effort would be much more humane.
In addition, small local banks and credit unions offered subsidized rates, favored by installments offered by the motorcycle dealers themselves.
The only doubt was represented by the rules, which in this country represent one of the big problems: when there are no rules, everyone invents his own; when there are rules, there is no one who enforces them, and when it is ordered to enforce them, bribes and corruption are triggered.
After a few years, Kenya found itself facing an explosion of two-wheeled purchases.
Every job, starting with the now very popular boda-boda that, especially in the central-northern regions, has outclassed tuk-tuks and other types of cabs, can be carried out by the "bajaj", from the transport of water and wood to that of goods for a small business.
We've seen 90 cc motorcycles load 200 kilograms of coal in two huge bags, four cases of beer, a few quintals of wood.
But we have also seen them carrying 5 passengers at the same time, dribbling through traffic without respecting half the rules of the road, overtaking on the left, standing in the middle of the road, running red lights at city traffic lights and so on.
Not only that: almost no one has a license to transport passengers, drug dealers and robbers use motorcycles for their crimes and misdeeds, often they are the same who during the day escort their customers at a (minimum) rate.
For goodness sake, I'm not all that. In Nanyuki the association of boda-boda operators works in solidarity and raises funds for vulnerable people, the organization in Malindi helped a lot our initiatives to sensitize the local population on the protocols to be respected during the pandemic restrictions.
The boda-boda now make up a large percentage of Kenyans, especially young ones, who reject other jobs, the possibility of making a career or having a serious job in hand. Who stop studying early in the myth of being able to have a motorcycle, who insist on having in advance their portion of inheritance from their fathers, in plots of land and sell them to buy a motorcycle, remaining without land, without food and often entering into competition in a profession (if such it can be defined) where there is a lot of competition. Not to mention possible accidents and maintenance costs.
In short, appropriate and strict laws for motorcyclists are long overdue.
Last striking case of the series, a few days ago in Nairobi, during an argument between a boda-boda and the driver of a car, the latter was attacked and even stripped naked by the motorcyclist, while his colleagues taunted her and someone filmed the scene.
Images that reached the head of the national police, Bruno Shioso, who immediately ordered controls and carpet arrests.
For two days it has been a hunt for licenses, for the malpractices that affect more than 3 million Kenyans.
A population that could also be decisive in the next elections.
A delicate matter for President Kenyatta and his candidate Raila Odinga, since on paper the boda-boda people are traditionally in opposition and could see in the challenger, the self-made man William Ruto, a leader who respects their demands.
But who knows how many barely licensed motorcyclists will go to vote after registering. In any case, prompted by the popular uprising over those images of attempted sexual assault and mockery of an inoffensive woman, Uhuru Kenyatta ordered a crackdown on all boda-bodas in Nairobi and called for expanded controls in the rest of Kenya.
"I know that we are in the peak season of the election campaign - said Kenyatta - and there are those who will say that the government is raging against small entrepreneurs. Nothing of the sort: but driving a boda boda doesn't give you the right to do shootings, and certainly the right to strip and take away the dignity of our women. We want to support our boda bodas, but women are also your customers. Treat them with respect."
Unregistered motorcycles will be impounded and those carrying unlicensed passengers arrested. It would also be time to think about enforcing the transportation law, which authorizes a maximum of one passenger, plus a helmet for the driver. A rule that is neither respected nor enforced.
The most interesting passage in Kenyatta's statement concerns the example of Rwanda, where the boda boda (called "abamotari" there) respect the rules, including the helmet and the number of passengers. Kenyatta also speculated about calling representatives of Rwandan boda-boda associations to instill the terms of good behavior into the habits of their riders.
But it must be said that President Kagame's government, despite some restrictions on citizens' freedom, is distinguished by the civil and social commitment of its population, for example with regard to the cleanliness of the cities, and that the police are not part of the corrupt sectors of the country.
In this way everything is easier.
Surely, however, the government is realizing that the problem of boda-boda anarchy must be solved.