The government ordered a census of boda bodas across the country and their re-registration with the Ministry of Transport for issuance of smart driving licenses, or face a ban.
Boda bodas stand as a popular mode of transport in Kenya.
Though the sub-sector is recognised as a potential economic spur, it still faces challenges and the national and county governments must reorganise the industry for optimum returns.
The sector is under censure for increased social ills including riders becoming a law unto themselves, thriving in lawlessness and openly defying traffic rules.
They have little regard for other road users' right of way and ride on pavements and footpaths designated for pedestrians; they are conduits of increased burglaries, muggings, smuggling of contraband goods and rape.
This situation has been attributed to the fact that the sector largely operates with minimal regulations and control, weak registration, policing and oversight.
What we are witnessing are situations where riders train one another, and with a quest to make quick money, some begin transporting people and goods even before they grasp the basics of road safety.
This has resulted in increased and unprecedented road accidents and deaths.
The problem is major such that many hospitals have set aside wards, specifically, for victims of boda bodas-related accidents, which continue to rise.
The sub-sector too has college and university graduates, pointing to the pervasiveness of unemployment in the country.
The recent directives by the President in line with revamping boda boda operations should be holistically addressed and actionably put into implementation by the tasked multi-sectoral authorities to streamline the sector.
The country survey report by Africa Community Access Partnership conducted in June 2019; Enhancing Understanding on the safe motorcycle and three-wheeler use for rural transport, indicates a majority of riders in Kenya are untrained, have no license, no insurance and are not members of any association.
As we focus on sanitising the sector, county governments should address growing concerns about crimes the sub-sector is associated with.
Existing control measures should be re-examined to establish their effectiveness and ways of strengthening them.
The new registration and vetting process is geared towards promoting road safety and security for all boda boda operators and their clients.
Through this initiative, the government intends to support the sub-sector through necessary reforms to protect legitimate operators and their clients, while weeding out criminal elements.
The distinction between training and sensitisation must be understood.
Sensitisation has a role to play but is no substitute for training.
Efforts should be made to reduce the risk and severity of crashes, including through training and the use of personal protective equipment, especially helmets.
Borrowing from such recommendations with strong law enforcement and regulation, taming corruption, impunity, and drug and substance abuse will pasteurise the industry however stringent it may be.
Founder Integrated Development Network
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
