The government is set to impose stricter regulations on Kenya’s boda boda sector as part of efforts to enhance accountability and safety.
Under the new measures, riders will be required to undergo fresh registration, specifying their designated operating areas, and wear uniforms unique to their location.
Each boda boda stage must now appoint a chairman, who will be held responsible—and could face arrest—if riders under their supervision are involved in criminal activities or law-breaking incidents.
This move comes after a spike in incidents where boda boda riders took the law into their own hands, including torching vehicles following accidents, and their involvement in other criminal acts. The government has emphasised the need for a long-term solution.
The regulations follow an agreement with the Boda Boda Safety Association of Kenya to enforce rules targeting riders whose conduct has been problematic.
“How do you burn someone’s vehicle because one rider was hit? The law applies to individuals, not groups,” said Nairobi Regional Police Commander George Seda.
From now on, all riders must belong to a registered group and have a stage chairman. Each rider will also receive a new registration number in addition to the NTSA plate, showing their county, sub-county, and stage of operation.
“Registration begins today after mapping all stages. Those who do not register must leave the sector immediately. Chairmen will be held accountable if they cannot identify riders involved in incidents,” said Kevin Mubadi, president of the Boda Boda Safety Association of Kenya.
Riders across the country will wear uniforms in designated colours specific to their sub-counties to distinguish them from others.
“Each county will have its own registration system, including sub-county and stage. This way, if a motorbike commits an offence in Mombasa, we can trace it back to Nairobi and the exact stage,” explained Assistant Inspector General Fredrick Ochieng.
To obtain the new registration, riders must first hold a valid boda boda license, a certificate of good conduct, insurance, and possess two helmets.
“You must register with a stage SACCO and meet all requirements, including a certificate of good conduct, to prove you are not involved in criminal activities,” Ochieng added.
The regulations are part of wider efforts to curb the rising involvement of boda boda riders in criminal gangs, theft, and torching vehicles following accidents.
