Starehe MP Charles Njagua and boda-boda operators in the City Centre were dealt a blow on Thursday after a judge declined to allow the riders to operate in the Nairobi CBD, awaiting the determination of their suit.

Instead, High court judge Roseline Aburili, certified as urgent, a case filed by Jaguar.

The singer turned politician wants the ban lifted arguing that it was reached without any consultation. He claims the ban is ill-informed and is also based on irrelevant considerations.

The first-time legislator further says the ban is limiting the economic rights of many operators who rely on ferrying passengers to and from the CBD.

“The boda-boda ban may result in more harm than good as the operators will be left frustrated and without a source of livelihood and may easily be inducted into the very criminal activities the ban seeks to curb,” he argues.

The judge, however, said she would rather hear all parties’ views before giving any directions.

She directed the riders to serve Governor Mike Sonko with the suit papers immediately. The judge, while declining to temporarily suspend the ban, further directed the parties to appear before the court on January 30 for further directions.

Read: Why Boda Boda Operators Have Been Banned From Nairobi CBD Beginning Today