Boda boda sector players in Kisii are up in arms against what they described as punitive bylaws from the municipality. 

The controversial by-laws, if operationalised, said the sector officials, may drive some riders out of business.

Stage Boss at Hema Mr Denis Ombese said already the municipal officials have sent them a circular detailing the said punitive laws.

Among the stipulations is that no boda boda operator should wait for customers at one stage for more than 10 minutes.

The other law demands at no time should one stage be patronised by more than three(3) operators.

The third gags the stage officials from questioning the activities of the enforcement officials even when they are impounding their motorbikes on flimsy grounds.

"Surely one doesn't need rocket science to judge the insufficiency of wisdom in these by-laws. We need laws that reflect the far we have come as a nation, laws that are ambitiously progressive, laws which take cognizance of the dynamics of our Constitution, not ones crafted by some lazy officials who do not know how this sector operates," Mr Ombese told journalists during a press conference early Sunday.

Mr Thomas Onchoke, another operator, said questioning the activities of an enforcement officer, popularly known as kanjo, would attract a Sh20,000 fine when the by-laws begin to function.

“Should we be abandoned to the mercies of the enforcement officers--many of them who are out to extort money from us? Does this mean we are going to sell cows to bail out colleagues whose sin would be querying the injustice of these askaris?” Mr Onchoke posed as they addressed reporters.

The two said they may be forced to call for a tax boycott if the municipal would not back down on the issue.

"The quickest and most effective response to an injustice is to withdraw what feeds them and that is our taxes," he said.

The municipal officials were unreachable on phone when reached by AVDelta News to comment on the issue.