Filed on March 10, the petition represents the National Kehkeh and Motorbike Riders Welfare and Advocacy Organization (NAKEMOR), as well as all motorbike and Kehkeh riders in Liberia.
Monrovia – Solidarity & Trust for a New Day (STAND) has filed a petition before the Supreme Court of Liberia, requesting that the government of President Joseph Boakai lift restrictions affecting motorbike and Kehkeh riders and return confiscated bikes and Kehkehs.
By Selma Lomax [email protected]
Filed on March 10, the petition represents the National Kehkeh and Motorbike Riders Welfare and Advocacy Organization (NAKEMOR), as well as all motorbike and Kehkeh riders in Liberia.
The case names the Government of Liberia as the respondent, with representation from Minister of Justice & Attorney General Oswald Tweh, Solicitor General Augustine Fayiah, and Liberia National Police, led by Inspector General Gregory Coleman.
The petition, led by STAND’s chairman, Mulbah K. Morlu, and legal counsel Cllr. Sayma Cyrenius Cephus, seeks a Writ of Prohibition to: Lift all restrictions preventing motorbike and Kehkeh riders from accessing Monrovia, Duala Market, and other areas within Liberia, stop the Liberia National Police from seizing motorbikes and Kehkehs or imposing excessive fines on riders, uphold riders’ rights under Article 13 of Liberia’s 1986 Constitution and the Vehicle and Traffic Law, ensuring fair treatment for licensed operators.
In the petition, STAND argues that the restrictions violate the constitutional rights of over 200,000 motorbike and Kehkeh riders who are licensed to operate legally under Liberia’s vehicle laws.
STAND’s legal petition outlines several critical issues:The government’s actions, particularly by the Liberia National Police, are restricting motorbike and Kehkeh riders from entering major areas like Monrovia and Duala Market, hampering their livelihoods and violating their right to free movement under the Constitution.
The petition also calls attention to the confiscation of motorbikes and Kehkehs, as well as the imposition of excessive fines on riders, without any legal basis or due process.
STAND asserts that these actions are unlawful under Article 13 of Liberia’s 1986 Constitution, which guarantees the right to free movement for all citizens. The petition argues that there has been no declaration of a state of emergency or valid reason justifying these measures.
The petition follows growing concerns over the escalating crisis facing motorbike and Kehkeh riders. Many of these riders depend on their vehicles to provide public transportation services throughout the country.
The government’s restrictions, imposed primarily by the Liberia National Police, have led to severe disruptions in daily life and a growing sense of injustice within the riding community.
A tragic incident on February 19, involving the death of a motorcyclist during a confrontation at Gabriel Tucker Bridge, is also cited in the petition. The resulting tensions between police and riders have exacerbated the situation, with some riders allegedly retaliating by attacking officers.
While STAND condemned the violence, they argue that the government’s “no-go zone” policy unfairly punishes all riders for the actions of a few. “We are asking the court to enforce the laws of the land,” said Morlu. “Our members have the legal right to operate without fear of harassment or illegal confiscations.”
