Kenya’s boda boda industry, long both a lifeline and a source of public concern, is facing sweeping reforms. The government has announced fresh rules that will require motorcycle taxi riders to register anew, wear uniforms tied to their localities and operate under stricter oversight.
The move comes after a series of violent incidents in which riders torched vehicles following accidents and were linked to criminal gangs. Officials say the measures are aimed at restoring order in a sector often described as both indispensable and unruly.
“Law is for individuals. How do you burn someone’s vehicle because one boda boda rider was hit?” asked Nairobi Regional Police Commander George Seda, condemning recent acts of mob justice.
Under the new rules, every boda boda stage will have a chairman, who will be held responsible if riders under their watch commit crimes. Authorities say the chairman could face arrest if they fail to account for offenders.
Kevin Mubadi, president of the Boda Boda Safety Association of Kenya, said the reforms begin immediately. “We are rolling out the registration from today after mapping all areas and stages. If you won’t register, then leave the sector,” he told riders.
Each motorbike will be issued a new identification number in addition to the NTSA plate, showing its county, sub-county, and stage of operation. Riders will be grouped under registered SACCOs and must present a valid licence, certificate of good conduct, insurance, and two helmets before being cleared.
Fredrick Ochieng, Assistant Inspector General of Police, said the uniform system will make it easier to trace offenders. “Each county will have its own registration. If a motorbike commits an offence in Mombasa, we will know it’s from Nairobi, and from which part of Nairobi,” he explained.
The changes follow an agreement between the government and the Boda Boda Association of Kenya. Officials hope the measures will reduce crime, improve safety, and restore public confidence in a sector that provides livelihoods for hundreds of thousands but has often been accused of lawlessness.
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