Police Seize Motorcycles, Launch Investigation

RUIRU, KENYA – Detectives in Kiambu County are investigating serious allegations against a motorcycle financing company, Jijenge Uwezo Limited, following a dramatic raid on its Ruiru town premises on the evening of Wednesday, October 29, 2025. A large group of angered boda boda operators from Nairobi’s Zimmerman and Kasarani areas stormed the company, accusing it of running a criminal scheme to steal back motorcycles sold to them on credit.

Ruiru Sub-County Police Commander Maina Kibathi confirmed that officers intervened and have taken possession of all motorcycles found at the firm's offices for verification. "We received a report from a complainant who alleged his stolen motorcycle was located at this company," Commander Kibathi stated on Thursday, October 30. "We have launched official investigations to ascertain the ownership of every motorcycle and to verify the company's operations." Police are urging any riders who have lost their motorcycles in similar circumstances to present their ownership documents at the Ruiru Police Station to aid the investigation.

A Disturbing Pattern of Theft

The confrontation was sparked after at least one rider discovered his motorcycle, which had been recently stolen, on display for sale at the Jijenge Uwezo offices. According to multiple reports from the scene, the rider had been allegedly drugged by a person posing as a customer, who then made off with the motorcycle, his phone, and cash. The victim, Samuel Oyaro, recounted the experience of a colleague: "They come to our stage pretending to be customers... only for them to stupefy you using drugs; you sleep and end up robbed."

The rider reported the theft at Membley Police Station. When he initially followed up with the loan company, he was informed that the motorcycle's GPS tracker had been deactivated in Mlolongo, Machakos County. However, upon returning to the firm's offices a day later with a colleague, he was shocked to find his exact motorcycle being prepared for resale. This discovery led to the mobilization of other riders who descended on the premises, claiming to identify other allegedly stolen bikes.

Sector-Wide Concerns and Regulatory Gaps

This incident highlights a growing crisis of trust and security within Kenya's lucrative boda boda transport sector, which serves as a critical source of employment for thousands of young people. Many operators rely on asset financing firms, often under "Buy Now, Pay Later" (BNPL) models, to acquire their motorcycles. These firms typically retain legal ownership of the asset, reflected in the logbook, until the loan is fully repaid.

The events in Ruiru mirror wider complaints that have plagued the sector for years. Across the country, riders have reported suspiciously timed thefts, often occurring just as they are about to complete their loan repayments. Allegations have frequently surfaced that some credit companies are slow to act on theft reports or inform clients that tracking devices have been inexplicably disabled.

These persistent issues have attracted parliamentary scrutiny. In May 2024, the National Assembly's Finance and National Planning Committee summoned officials from several motorcycle loan firms, including Watu Credit and Mogo, to address complaints of exploitation, exorbitant interest rates, and unfair repossession practices. Investigations by parliamentary committees have previously revealed that the BNPL sector operates in a regulatory grey area, leaving many consumers vulnerable. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has also previously dismantled sophisticated syndicates involved in drugging riders and trafficking stolen motorcycles across the border to Tanzania.

While asset financing has expanded economic opportunities, the incident at Jijenge Uwezo Limited underscores the urgent need for robust regulation and consumer protection frameworks to safeguard the livelihoods of boda boda operators from potentially predatory practices and criminal activities. The outcome of the ongoing police investigation in Ruiru is now keenly awaited by operators and industry stakeholders as a test of accountability. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED.