Migori Boda Boda Riders Stage Demo Over High County Levies: “We Cannot Afford to Pay Ksh 50”

• Transport and businesses in Migori, Rongo and Uririr towns were, for the better part of Tuesday, March 11, paralysed by boda boda operators
• The operators took to the streets of the three towns as they protested against high levies imposed by the county
• They demanded that the county exempt them from paying a KSh 50 levy for their operations

Migori: Business in several towns within Migori county has been disrupted and transport paralysed after a section of boda boda operators staged demonstrations.

Why Migori boda boda riders protested

The operators in Migori, Rongo and Uriri towns were protesting against what they claim are high levies imposed by the county government of Migori.

Tuesday, March 11, was the second day in a row that the riders were taking to the streets as they push for tax exemptions from the county.

“We want to be exempted from paying taxes to the county. We earn what is not even enough for our families hence we cannot afford to pay KSh 50 they are demanding from us every week,” said Titus Omondi, one of the operators.

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Some of the riders also accused Governor Ochillo Ayacko of failing to keep his promise of creating jobs for them in the revenue department.

They also lamented over poor road networks.

“All they do is to collect fees from us but the roads are pathetic. Let them improve the roads before imposing whatever they want us to pay,” said another rider, Jeremy Oduor.

How boda boda demos paralysed transport in Migori

The demonstrations paralysed the transport sector, forcing matatu operators to either wait or use long routes to their various destinations.

Some of the boda boda riders lit bonfires on the road.

Commuters had to dig deeper into their pockets to access the town centers as matatu operators counted their losses.

"It's now costing us a lot to access the town. We are also taking a lot of time. Like today, we are forced to drop our customers away from town so they have to walk a long distance," Lebaso Mwita, a matatu operator said.

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TUKO.co.ke’s attempts to reach the county government of Migori over the boda boda riders’ complaints bore no fruits as calls went unanswered.

The county revenue office at Ushuru House was also closed when we visited.

Multimedia University students protest

Meanwhile, TUKO.co.ke reported that Multimedia University students took to the streets following a hit-and-run incident involving one of them.

The protesting students disrupted transport along Magadi Road after lighting bonfires as they demanded for justice.

Police officers were later deployed in the area in an attempt to quell the unrest. They had to engage the students in running battles for several hours.

TUKO.co.ke had also reported how police officers responded to some of the youths who were preparing to protest outside Jesus Winner Ministry Church in Roysambu.

The church has been under fire after it accepted a KSh 20 million donation from President William Ruto.

Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke