Claims that boda boda riders are behind the rising cases of boda boda riders burning PSVs have dominated public debate. Videos, photos, and anger-filled posts have spread fast, shaping public opinion before facts emerged.
The National Police Service (NPS) now says that the narrative is wrong. Police investigations point to organized criminal gangs that infiltrate protests and chaos to torch vehicles. As tension grips the public transport sector, police insist facts, arrests, and evidence tell a very different story from what many Kenyans believe.
How NPS Investigations Expose the Truth Behind Boda Boda Riders Burning PSVs
The National Police Service has rejected claims that boda boda riders lead attacks on public service vehicles. Senior Superintendent of Police Boniface Otieno said police findings show criminals exploit protests to carry out arson.
Speaking on Monday, February 2, Otieno stressed that investigators have followed evidence, not public pressure. He said officers reviewed footage, witness statements, and arrest records from several incidents.
“I want to make it clear that it is not always boda boda,” Otieno said. “Our investigations have revealed this in very many ways.”
Police say criminal gangs plan ahead, blend into crowds, and strike when tension peaks. They use protests as cover, then disappear before police arrive. This tactic allows them to shift blame to boda boda riders, who often operate near transport routes.
Otieno added that these gangs act with clear criminal intent. They target PSVs to cause fear, disrupt transport, and profit from chaos. Police say some suspects even record the attacks to spread panic online.
An image of a Super Metro bus burning along Thika Superhighway in Kiambu County on September 1, 2025, became a symbol of the crisis. Police now say that case forms part of wider investigations linking vehicle torching to organised criminals rather than riders.
Police Reject Claims of Inaction Over Boda Boda Riders Burning PSVs
NPS has also dismissed accusations that police and the government failed to act. Otieno said officers have moved fast, despite the complex nature of the crimes.
“It is not true that there is inaction by the police or the government,” he stated. “From where the National Police Service is sitting, a lot has been done.”
Police have opened multiple files, deployed intelligence teams, and tracked suspects across counties. Otieno confirmed that officers arrested three suspects in the Pangani vehicle-burning case that happened about a week ago.
Investigators continue to question suspects and follow financial and phone records. Police say these steps help uncover networks behind the attacks instead of focusing on isolated suspects.
Otieno urged the public to engage police directly. He asked concerned citizens to visit local police stations to check the progress of investigations. He said transparency remains key to restoring public trust.
Police also warned against spreading unverified claims. They said false accusations risk inflaming tensions between boda boda riders and matatu operators, two groups that depend on each other daily.
Transport Sector Tensions Fuel Debate on Boda Boda Riders’ Wars With PSVs
The debate over boda boda riders burning PSVs has intensified as the public transport sector faces mounting losses. Matatu operators have gone on strike to protest the destruction of their vehicles.
Kushian Muchiri, CEO of the Federation of Public Transport Sector, said more than 21 vehicles have been torched in the last three months. He said operators reached a breaking point after repeated attacks.
Muchiri explained that leaders tried to engage Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir and other agencies without success. The strike followed those failed attempts.
However, Muchiri said dialogue offers the only lasting solution. He noted that Sacco leaders now support talks with boda boda representatives to cool tensions and rebuild trust.
Police support this approach. They say criminal gangs thrive when transport groups fight each other. Unity, intelligence sharing, and calm engagement weaken criminal networks.
NPS insists evidence must guide public judgment. Police say branding all boda boda riders as criminals ignores facts and harms thousands of law-abiding riders.
As investigations continue, police promise more arrests and court cases. They urge Kenyans to separate crime from livelihoods and facts from anger. The truth behind PSV torching, police say, lies with organized criminals—not the riders many rushed to blame.
