The government has vowed to unleash harsh punishments to defiant boda boda riders upon the elapse of the 60-day registration period.
Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho warned that the government will not entertain excuses from the riders should they not fully adhere to the laid out directives.
He said the crackdown to enforce the laws will commence as soon as the two months end.
Speaking in Kerugoya stadium during the launch of the exercise, the PS impressed upon the operators to take advantage of the opportunity granted and visit the nearest Huduma centres to get registered.
In addition, he urged them to enroll in NYS centres or any other driving school for necessary training in order to qualify for the new licenses.
He said besides the government opening up the NYS centres, it has in equal measures waived the Sh5,800 license fee registration.
"With all the advantages that come with the 60-day grace period, I expect many riders to show up for the exercise," Kibicho said.
"After the period elapses,we will dispatch our officers to enforce the laws and will not accept any rider to operate outside the laid out rules."
Kibicho said there are no new laws the government is introducing, as all the rules have been captured in the traffic Act.
"Your role is to ensure that you fulfill them so that the government can allow you to operate," Kibicho said.
The PS said the exercise is convenient as it is being implemented through digital systems.
He said the process takes a maximum of 10 minutes as many of the details are captured in the National Transport Safety Authority systems.
As a way of encouraging them to show up, Kibicho said the government would provide free NHIF medical coverage to the first 200,000 riders who register countrywide.
At the Huduma station in Kerugoya, Kibicho said about 75 riders will be served per day across the four desks.
The PS also urged the riders to register in saccos so that they could improve their financial welfare and also achieve a self-regulation habit.
He lamented over the fragmentation of the riders into so many groups, a situation he said had made it impossible for the government to control the sector.
"Out of the 1.5 million operators country wide,90 per cent are law abiding," he said.
"However, another 10 per cent have infiltrated the sector and ruined it. Through this exercise,we expect to kick them out."
He noted that the boda boda industry is one of the promising sectors as the riders get an opportunity to interact with an estimated 7.5 million pillion passengers on a daily basis.
According to government statics, Kibicho said each boda boda rider serves about five individuals per day.
He said this prompted the government to direct it's focus on the sector.
As for the riders whose motorcycles were impounded by police for minor offences, Kibicho gave an assurance that they would get them back.
The PS made it clear that the riders need to present their legitimate identification documents for them to get back their bikes.
"Not all the boda bodas will be released as many could be lying in police stations for various reason," the PS said.
"Those whose owners committed major crimes will be answerable according to the law and their bikes will not be released."
Kibicho said the government had embarked on the process of reviewing the licence renewal fee for the riders from the current Sh3,050 to Sh1,050.
He said it was unfair for the riders to pay a similar amount to that of the vehicle owners.
Christopher Wanjau, the director for motor vehicle registration urged the riders to follow the government's directives to the letter.
He also urged those who had undertaken training to see to it that they acquire the new smart driving licences.
He said that his office would help whenever needed.
The riders through their chairperson Patrick promised to cooperate and reach out to other of their colleagues who were not present during the launch.
(Edited by Francis Wadegu)
