Concerns have been raised over the upsurge in motorbike theft in Kapenguria town, West Pokot county.
Most of the stolen motorcycles are yet to be recovered.
The boda boda riders and police are on the lookout to unearth the theft syndicate.
West Pokot Subcounty boda boda office has reported 72 missing motorbikes since the year began, causing panic amongst boda boda riders and owners.
West Pokot Subcounty boda boda chairman Augustine Tomunyo said some riders are colluding in organising motorbike thefts.
“No one can come from outside to steal our motorbikes, the deal is among the riders themselves. The ongoing boda boda theft is a technicality where people pretend to be customers and later disappear with the bikes," Tomunyo said,
"Recently there was an idle man at Makutano main stage who stayed there for three days and escaped with a motorbike.”
He said that the theft happened day and night and called on the security officers to help to contain the situation.
“We are doing investigations but we have not received much support from the police,” he said.
“These motorbikes are our means of livelihood. Many of us have worked hard to buy them, some we acquired on loans.
"Five motorbikes have been stolen in the Bendera area in the last month,” Raphel Kibeta a rider said.
The locals have initiated public awareness programmes on motorcycle theft prevention and other joint security measures to safeguard their property.
Residents are also calling for increased security surveillance in the area to curb the emerging motorbike theft trends.
West Pokot Subcounty police commander Richard Omanga said there is a motorbike syndicate in the area and police are on the lookout to unearth it.
He said many people steal motorbikes from outside and bring them into the area.
Omanga told residents to be vigilant.
