Bodaboda Regulations and Urban Crime Control in Nairobi Central Business District in Nairobi City County, Kenya
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Date
2025-06
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
The bodaboda industry in Kenya is thriving with daily transactions of millions of shillings and employing millions of people. However, the sector is a source of insecurity as the riders directly engage in criminal activities or abetting and enabling crime as an entry or getaway transport means. Therefore, to control crime, this study sought to establish how bodaboda regulation affect urban crime control in the central business district in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The specific objectives included bodaboda identification, bodaboda Sacco registration, reporting procedures, case processing and leadership engagement structures and their effect on urban crime control. The study was grounded on the broken window theory and supported by routine activity theory and social disorganization theory. The study used descriptive research design. The 6 bodaboda stage managers, 24 bodaboda Sacco officials, 7 officers in-charge of police station and 60 county law enforcement officers formed the target population. Stratified sampling technique was used in grouping respondents as per their function and simple random sampling was employed in selecting respondents. Since the population was small, a census of all the 97 respondents made the study’s sample size. Primary data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires from stage managers, Sacco officials and county officers and interviews were done to officers in-charge of police stations. The researcher abided by research ethics including getting permissions, confidentiality, keeping identities secret and using data for academic purposes. A pilot study was done using 10 respondents from Starehe division and all the alpha values were above the 0.7 threshold. This confirmed the instruments were reliable and fit for use even with input from research experts and university supervisor. The distributed questionnaires were filled by 92.2% of the targeted group and 71.4% of the targeted interviews were conducted. The data was analyzed descriptively, through linear and multiple regression and qualitatively. From the regression analysis, the study found all the bodaboda regulations inclusive of bodaboda identification, bodaboda Sacco registration, reporting procedures, case processing and leadership engagement structures had positive and significant effect on urban crime control in the Nairobi central business district. The study further established that leadership engagement structures that brought to fore all the stakeholders in the community, largely contributed to control of urban crimes. therefore, concluding that bodaboda regulations were effective in controlling urban crime within the Nairobi central business district in Nairobi City County. The research recommended for government entities to embrace new technology in the number plates of the bodabodas for ease of identification, tracking and apprehending. The technology will also help in reporting crimes as there is still fear of visiting police stations. Furthermore, the study made these recommendations that all bodaboda operators must be registered in Sacco that would monitor, control and manage the activities of all the members. There was need for timely and accurately handling each case and involvement of all stakeholders to deter and control criminal activities. The study is of significance to the business community since it shared on how stakeholders can handle different functions that would control urban crime. This is because a safe and secure business environment is necessary for thriving households that rely on successes from the business entities located in the central business district.
Description
A Research Project Submitted in the School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences for Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements For the Award of Degree of Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration of Kenyatta University, June 2025.
Supervisor
Wilson Muna