Matiang’i urges boda boda riders to support anti-FGM efforts
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i yesterdaay asked boda boda operators to help eradicate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) that the government has been striving to fight.
Matiang’i noted that the operators are mostly the ones on the ground when the vices are committed, hence the clarion call for them to help the State end such lawlessness.
He observed that teenage pregnancies is a teething problem and urged the operators to be on the look-out for those having sexual relations with under-age girls for the government to take action.
“We want you to become part of community policing to end such wayward behaviours that have infiltrated our society.
We want the culprits to face the full force of the law for such despicable acts,” said Matiang’i.
President Uhuru Kenyatta made personal commitment in the fight against FGM in the country, during the International Conference on Population and Development 25th anniversary (ICPD25) last year, pledging to provide the necessary leadership needed to fight the vice and eliminate the practice which remains one of the most serious violations of the rights of women and girls.
Boda boda system
Matiang’i was speaking during the launch of the Boda Boda Information Management System BIMS which he said will play a big role in fighting increased cases of crime and also complement government efforts in reforming the sector.
“The system will enhance transparency and accountability in the sector and make it easy to weed out criminal elements from among members of the association.
As a government we are encouraging more self-regulating mechanisms like this one,” he said.
Boda Boda Safety Association of Kenya chairman Kevin Mubadi said the move will streamline the sector which has in the past be tainted by negative information.
“We are tired of being called thieves. We want to identify ourselves with the government by ensuring all our 1.2 million members countrywide have all their details captured well,” he said.
ICT CS Joe Mucheru promised to work closely with the riders to ensure their data is fully protected.
Mucheru also hinted of the riders working together with Posta Kenya and at the end adopt them as government courier service.
“With the new system, movement of goods and services has been made easier. As a government we will initiate talks to see how we will make you work with Posta and be part of government courier service,’ he said.
