By Ali Gofa
The boda boda sector is a cornerstone of the Kenyan economy, providing livelihoods for over one million people. In Embu County, Crime Si Poa (CSP) began engaging riders in Kirimari Ward in August 2025, initially conducting targeted crime-awareness outreach across local picking bays. To ensure these security teachings remain sustainable, our team shifted focus toward empowering the ward’s elected boda boda leadership.
On August 28th, 2025, CSP hosted a specialized leadership training session at the EYAA Youth Centre in Embu Town, attended by ten key leaders. The workshop focused on the principles of community leadership and outlined how these leaders can actively collaborate with CSP to prevent local crime. Beyond theory, the session served as an interactive forum to analyze prevailing criminal trends in their areas, assess safety on the roads, and review the impact of our initial sensitization campaigns.
The insights shared by these leaders demonstrate a remarkable commitment to self-regulation, peace, and public order. Since our first interaction earlier that month, the leadership teams have implemented robust internal policies to counter criminal activity within their ranks.
Mr. Julius Mathaai, the central chairman, explained their strict accountability measures:
“We have established rules stating that if a rider is suspected of criminal involvement, they are immediately reported to the police and suspended. This suspension bars them from operating not just at their specific picking bay, but anywhere within Embu Town under the jurisdiction of the Kirimari Ward Boda Leaders.”
This preventive approach highlights an invaluable asset in community policing: a strong, trusting relationship between the riders and local law enforcement, which streamlines the reporting process.
In addition to crime prevention, the leaders have enforced strict codes of professional conduct to improve road safety and passenger trust. Mr. Muriithi, the representative for the Rupingazi area, a location previously flagged as a crime hotspot, emphasized their zero-tolerance policy for misconduct:
“We respect our clients and our profession. If a rider is found to be disorderly or intoxicated during working hours, their picking bay leader mandatorily escorts them home Immediately Anyone who resists faces immediate suspension from the bay.”
Our partnership with the Embu boda boda community has yielded measurable shifts in daily operations. Leaders are now actively mentoring younger riders, steering them away from common local offenses like robbery and defilement.
Ultimately, the leaders emphasized that maintaining security and order directly protects their livelihoods. Insecurity from within the sector erodes public trust, making it difficult for honest riders to do business. Moving forward, Crime Si Poa and the Kirimari Ward leadership have committed to sustaining this partnership, with plans to roll out localized refresher sessions at individual picking bays upon request.