The operators in their tens barricaded the road as they protested its poor state. They blamed its state on hundreds of truckers plying the route.
They blocked the road using stones for close to an hour, making it completely impossible for motorists, including trucks that were on the road during the incident.
"We have issues with these trucks transporting murrum from a nearby quarry. There is an investor selling murrum from the quarries, yet he can't service this road despite the fact that they are destroyed by the trucks," Alex Mwendwa, one of the operators said.
They addressed the press after the demonstrations. The riders said the road was dusty and in poor state hence posed health risks not only to them, but their clients too.
"We ferry women and children and operate on the road from morning to 10.00pm; hence seriously get affected by the dust," Mwendwa said.
Mwendwa said some of them frequent hospital for medication due to the situation.
He urged the investor to sprinkle water on the road at least twice a week to reduce the dust and its effects.
Mlolongo/Syokimau Bodaboda Association chairman Alex Mutuku told the riders not to take law into their hands and insisted they seek dialogue to find solutions to their grievances.
Mutuku told the riders to stop the protests, ordering them to unblock the road so as not to inconvenience innocent users.
"It's true the road has lots of dust cost by the trucks, and it affects road users. Not only bodaboda operators operating in the Sabaki area have been complaining on the same, but locals too," Mutuku said.
"We have talked with the investor in question and agreed that he will sprinkle water so that road users operate without problems and complaints," Mutuku added.
He said the problem had been there for several months.
Mutuku said residents had been repairing the road themselves.
"So, when the trucks use it, it causes anger to the locals; trucks destroy the road and cause dust," Mutuku said.
He said the investor should not only sprinkle water on the road but also murrum it while using it.
Mutuku said it was the residents' fears that the trucks would leave the road worse than they found it.
He urged the Machakos County Government to offer a permanent solution by either tarmacking or putting cabros on the road.
Mutivo General Contractors Limited director James Muasya said he was the investor whom the bodaboda operators were referring to.
Muasya, however, said he was a major contributor in maintaining the road in question.
"I have been maintaining it for over a year now. I excavate murrum from my quarry in Sabaki, the one being referred to by the bodaboda operators, and use my own graders to repair the road," Muasya said.
He said he was ready to cooperate and meet the locals' demands of sprinkling water on the road.
"Whenever we get complaints from residents, we always comply, and we will sprinkle water. As we talk now, two water boozers will be sprinkling water on it in a short while," Muasya said.
He said they didn't have problems with the locals or other persons.
"We urge our truck drivers to drive carefully. Don't overspeed; follow traffic rules and regulations at all times. We ask residents for forgiveness; in case we have wronged them, we will rectify our mistakes," Muasya said.
