Boda boda riders are pushing back against a proposed law they say threatens their livelihoods and portrays them unfairly as lawbreakers. Appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Transport and Infrastructure on Thursday, the Boda Boda Safety Association of Kenya (BAK) described the Public Transport (Motorcycle Regulation) Bill as “exploitative” and “misguided.” The bill, sponsored by Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, seeks to overhaul the motorcycle transport sector with strict new measures.
If passed, the bill would require all riders to join SACCOs, install GPS trackers on their bikes, and comply with oversight from 47 new county motorcycle safety boards. It also introduces formal employment contracts between riders and motorcycle owners, while capping load weight at 50 kilograms.
“This bill doesn’t bring safety it brings suffering,” BAK President Kevin Mubadi told lawmakers. “It doesn’t protect livelihoods it threatens to wipe them out.”
Mubadi said the bill treats boda boda riders as criminals, instead of acknowledging their role in supporting millions across Kenya. “We are fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters. We are job creators. This bill is a betrayal of our hard work and contribution to the economy.”
BAK challenged the redundancy of creating county boards when the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) already oversees public transport. “Why are we being asked to register again, to pay again, to verify again?” Mubadi asked. “This isn’t regulation. This is punishment disguised as policy.”
The group also took issue with the proposed weight limit for loads, warning it would hurt rural communities and small-scale farmers. “A sack of maize weighs over 90 kilograms. Are we supposed to tell farmers we can’t transport food anymore?” Mubadi said. “This law would criminalize survival.”
The association stressed that it supports organized transport but condemned mandatory SACCO membership, calling it an entry point for corruption and coercion. “We are not against organization—but it must be voluntary. Forced membership opens the door to cartels,” Mubadi stated.
Mubadi criticized the GPS tracking and uniform requirements, claiming they would raise operational costs and enrich politically connected suppliers. “We are barely surviving. Now you want us to buy trackers, new jackets, and go through duplicate registration? This is not about safety it’s about squeezing us dry,” he added.
BAK warned that handing full regulatory authority to counties could lead to confusion and enforcement inconsistencies, clashing with the NTSA Act’s national oversight framework.
The group is now urging Parliament to shelve the bill and instead initiate a review of current transport laws with full involvement from riders, communities, and existing regulators.
“This isn’t just about boda bodas,” Mubadi said. “It’s about food reaching markets. It’s about rural livelihoods. It’s about the freedom to work with dignity.”
As Parliament considers the bill, the riders say they will continue to speak out against what they view as an attempt to criminalize their work and strip away their rights under the guise of reform.
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