The restriction imposed on commercial motorbikes and Kehkeh, barring them from plying certain areas in Monrovia, has triggered a petition before the Supreme Court of Liberia.
Monrovia, March 11, 2025/ Solidarity & Trust for a New Day (STAND) has petitioned the Liberian Supreme Court to lift the “No-Go-Zone” restrictions placed on commercial motorcyclists and Kehkeh riders here weeks ago.
STAND, a grassroots advocacy organization, argued in its petition filed before Justice in Chambers Ceaineh D. Clinton Johnson that the restriction imposed by the Liberian National Police is an undue punishment for commuters who rely on these operators’ transportation services.
The restrictions placed on commercial motorcyclists and Kehkeh riders were introduced following a tragic incident on February 19, when a vehicle suffered mechanical failure while descending Crown Hill and collided with a motorbike, claiming the life of motorcyclist Emmanuel Trokon Pajibo.
Dozens of commercial motorcyclists descended into rioting, destroying police checkpoints and attacking police officers, leading to total mayhem.
On March 3, 2025, members of the Motorcycle Union of Liberia took to the streets in protest, urging the Liberia National Police (LNP) and the government to lift the temporary restrictions in key areas of Monrovia. However, the Police insist the restriction will remain in effect until a full assessment of security risks in the affected areas is completed.
The restricted areas include the stretch from ELWA Junction to Boulevard to Monrovia, as well as from Freeport through Logan Town, Clara Town, and Central Monrovia. But the Police have insisted that the restriction will remain in place for now.
However, in its petition before the Justice in Chambers, led by Cllr. Sayma Cyrenius Cephus and STAND Chief Executive Officer Mulbah K. Morlu, petitioners noted the sense of national urgency with growing unease, uproar, a serious commuter transportation crisis, and severe hardship for commuters throughout Liberia because of the restriction.
The petitioners argued that by restricting the free movement of the Kehkeh and motorbikes within the City of Monrovia, Duala Market, and other parts of Liberia, the respondent’s conduct is repugnant to the provisions of Article 13 of the 1986 Constitution.
Article 13 of the 1986 Constitution states: (a). Every person lawfully within the Republic shall have the right to move freely throughout Liberia, to reside in any part thereof, and to leave therefrom, subject, however, to the safeguarding of public security, public order, public health, or morals, or the rights and freedoms of others.
Moreover, while acknowledging the role of the police, the petitioner questions the rationale of the police using an isolated incident of alleged lawlessness by a few individuals to witch-hunt and incriminate over 200,000 other members.
“The Respondent’s ‘no-go zone’ policy unfairly blames and indicts an entire organization without due process, in violation of Article 13 of the 1986 Constitution,” the petitioner argued.
Meanwhile, the LNP, through the Ministry of Justice, has yet to respond to the petition. Othello B. Garblah.
