Police ban masks after boda thugs devise new trick in Trans Nzoia

Police Ban Public Use of Masks as Boda Boda Thugs Devise New Trick
Security authorities in Trans Nzoia have issued a ban on the wearing of masks in public spaces, a move aimed at dismantling a new tactic employed by criminal gangs operating on motorbikes. The directive, announced by the county security committee, comes in response to a surge in robberies where assailants use face masks, helmets, and hoods to completely conceal their identities during attacks and subsequent getaways. This has significantly hampered eyewitness identification and criminal investigations.
The new strategy by the criminals has made it nearly impossible for victims and security cameras to capture the facial features of the perpetrators, allowing them to evade arrest. County Commissioner Samson Ojwang stated that the ban is necessary to peel back this layer of anonymity. He emphasized that while helmets are mandatory for safety while a motorcycle is in motion, riders must remove them once they stop in a public or business area. The ban extends to the use of balaclavas and any other clothing item used to obscure the face unlawfully.
The police have been directed to enforce the ban rigorously, with a particular focus on boda boda operators and passengers. Anyone found violating the directive will be subject to arrest and prosecution. The security team hopes this measure will restore a critical tool for crime-fighting—facial recognition—and make it riskier for thieves to operate. The ban has been largely welcomed by business owners and residents, who have borne the brunt of the masked attacks, though some citizens have expressed concerns about the balance between security and personal freedoms.