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The National Police Service (NPS) says the recent rise in incidents where Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) are set on fire is being driven by criminal groups who sneak into protests and cause destruction.
Speaking on Monday, February 2, Senior Superintendent of Police Boniface Otieno pushed back against the common belief that boda boda riders are always behind the attacks.
He said investigations by police show that this assumption is often wrong.
Otieno explained that security teams have found evidence that some of the people involved are organized criminals who take advantage of protest situations to carry out illegal acts.
According to him, these individuals use the confusion during demonstrations to damage vehicles and property.
He stressed that the blame should not be placed automatically on boda boda operators whenever such incidents happen. Investigators have reviewed multiple cases and found different groups involved, not just riders.
Otieno also rejected claims that authorities are ignoring the problem or failing to act. He said police are actively investigating the cases and have already made several arrests connected to the destruction of matatus and other PSVs.
He added that more suspects are being tracked and that enforcement action will continue as investigations move forward.
