In Eldoret, a boda boda operator reported the disappearance of his motorcycle to the dealership that had provided it to him on a credit basis, citing unspecified reasons. Subsequently, he took the unusual step of concealing the motorcycle on his property.
An internet video captured the presence of both business representatives and law enforcement officials at the boda boda operator’s premises as they embarked on a search operation. The collaborative effort led to the recovery of the motorcycle.
The methodology employed by Bodaboda credit companies to locate stolen motorcycles has been met with criticism from the Kenyan populace, with concerns about potential misuse. Some individuals who had taken loans from these companies expressed discontent, alleging that once their loans were repaid, the businesses exploited the trackers installed in the motorcycles to reclaim them, effectively “stealing” the vehicles back.
A video that circulated widely depicted several individuals clad in reflective jackets engaged in the cleaning of mud-covered motorcycles. Amidst this scene, one of the participants could be heard exclaiming, “He seems to have buried something here. Let’s retrieve it. What’s the number plate? Well done, detective. The bike has now been successfully recovered.”
The incident has ignited a spirited debate among certain segments of the Kenyan population. Many have raised questions about the inability of lending institutions to locate motorcycles that were reported stolen subsequent to the borrowers fulfilling their loan obligations. Skepticism has been voiced, with some suggesting that the situation might involve internal collaboration, thereby hindering the resolution of legitimate cases reported by riders nationwide.
Other observers have gone so far as to assert that these companies are preying on young, unsuspecting individuals who sought to establish an honest livelihood within the transportation sector.
The lending entities have come under scrutiny, facing collective censure for disbursing loans to riders at exorbitant interest rates and allegedly repossessing motorcycles once the loans are fully settled. However, it’s important to note that these accusations remain unverified.
In certain instances, borrowers have repaid their loans over extended periods, sometimes up to 390 days, only to find themselves paying nearly double the initial price of the motorcycle—ultimately losing possession of the vehicle after completing their repayments.
Prominent activist Boniface Mwangi and Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai have consistently urged the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to undertake a thorough examination of the numerous cases reported by innocent Kenyan citizens who have been left in dire financial straits as a result.
