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Ombudsman now tells Nairobi County to stop impounding boda boda, vehicles


The office of the Ombudsman has asked the Nairobi City County government to stop impounding motor vehicles and motorcycles until a law that legalizes such action has been enacted.

This is following investigations by the office that found out that Nairobi County inspectorate department has been operating without the relevant legislation and instead continues to use the defunct Nairobi City Council by-laws and regulations to manage and control traffic in the city.

“Investigators established that the Inspectorate Department has been impounding and towing motor vehicles and motorcycles and charging the owners impounding fee ranging from Sh1,000 per motorcycle per day to Sh10,000 per day for trucks,” said acting Commission Chairperson Regina Mwatha.

She added that their investigation was prompted by Mr Noah Munialo Simuyu who filled a complaint with the commission after his motorcycle was impounded by the county government in 2015.

Following the intervention of the commission his motorcycle was released after being detained for more than a year.

FEES INCURRED

Two weeks ago the Nairobi County government released all impounded boda bodas and wavered fees incurred in storage and court fines.

The county collects Sh2,500 for vehicle owners for each additional day the vehicle remains in their yard, according to the commission these charges are not supported by any law.

The county inspectorate had 105 motorbikes in the county yard which had been impounded since November 2015, after governor Evans Kidero banned the riders from operating in the CBD.

Despite the order, the riders have been operating with impunity with most of them failing to adhere to the traffic rules as they often drive on the wrong side of the road.

The commission called on the county government to enact the law the Nairobi City County inspectorate Bill which has been pending since devolution of services in 2010.