Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu has raised concerns over the growing use of motorcycles in violent crimes, following the killing of well-known city lawyer Kyalo Mbobu along Magadi Road on September 9, 2025.
The incident has renewed debates on the need to regulate motorcycles, which have increasingly been linked to criminal activities in urban areas.
Speaking during a live TV interview on September 11, 2025, Nyutu suggested practical measures aimed at making motorcycles more traceable and accountable.
“Perhaps we should start thinking about the regulation of motorcycles because motorcycles are being used to perpetrate very heinous crimes,” Nyutu said.
He emphasized that motorcycles currently only have a single registration plate at the back, making it difficult to track the vehicles involved in crimes.
To address this, Nyutu proposed introducing front-facing number plates in addition to the rear ones. He added that the font on the plates should be larger so that the registration numbers can be read from a distance.
“With the security cameras that we have, if we can be able to capture those registration numbers, we can be able to bring to book (the perpetrators),” Nyutu observed.
His suggestions are aimed at improving the ability of law enforcement agencies to identify and apprehend criminals who use motorcycles to commit violent acts.
Nyutu also highlighted that several people have been shot dead in Nairobi by assailants on motorcycles.
In many cases, the vehicles disappear quickly after the crime, leaving police with little evidence to trace the suspects.
“Once we know who the motorcycle is registered to, the security agencies will find it easy to trace and locate exactly who was using that motorcycle,” he said.
The senator argued that proper regulation could make it easier to hold perpetrators accountable within days of a crime.
“I think we need to think more about motorcycles to regulate them so that once a crime is committed by people on a motorcycle, then in two or three days, the owner should be able to tell who was using the motorcycle so that the criminals are apprehended easily,” Nyutu stated.
Nyutu’s proposals come at a time when concerns about motorcycle-related violence are rising across Kenyan cities.
By calling for larger, more visible number plates and a dual-plate system, the senator hopes to provide security agencies with the tools needed to prevent motorcycles from being used as instruments of crime, while ensuring swift justice for victims and their families.
This approach reflects growing calls for practical solutions to curb crime in urban centers, focusing not only on policing but also on regulations that make it harder for criminals to evade capture.
If implemented, Nyutu’s recommendations could be a significant step toward making cities safer and more accountable for motorcycle owners.
