Incoming Kisumu City MP, Hon. Edward Onyango, popularly known as Bob CEO, on Wednesday spent the better part of the day at the Kisumu County Boda Boda head office to show solidarity with operators after their offices were torched by unknown attackers.
Bob CEO personally contributed KSh50,000 to support the reconstruction of the premises and urged residents to embrace peaceful co-existence in Kisumu Central.
His visit came just a day after boda boda operators and a machete-wielding gang known as Mbogi struck a peace deal, ending a wave of hostility that had threatened to spiral out of control. The truce was brokered by Kisumu Central Police Commander and Kisumu Residents Association activist, Audi Ogada.
Tensions flared on Sunday when members of Mbogi stormed Elgons in Kibos and set the boda boda office ablaze, allegedly in retaliation for the killing of one of their leaders, identified as Troon, reportedly by a boda boda rider.
Speaking at Kisumu Central Police Station, County Boda Boda Chairman Jacob Ochieng Ogambo confirmed that calm had been restored and that both sides had agreed to abandon hostilities.
“Our agenda was peace. We’ve agreed, and we will not hide or tolerate anyone in the boda boda sector who soils our name. Boy Akoth will reconstruct the office and restore what was destroyed. We’ve shaken hands,” Ogambo said.
Businessman Willis Akoth, alias Boy Akoth, leader of Mbogi, pledged his faction’s full commitment to the peace accord, confirming that reconstruction of the burnt office would begin on Tuesday, August 26.
The deal marks a major breakthrough in easing long-standing rivalry between the groups, whose violent confrontations have posed a constant threat to peace and security in Kisumu’s central business district.
