National Assembly rejects withdrawal of boda boda regulation Bill
The Bill, which aims to regulate motorcycle taxis at the county level, will now proceed to a second reading after the National Assembly voted against discharging it.
The National Assembly has refused to halt the progress of the Public Transport (Motorcycle Regulation) Bill, commonly known as the Bodaboda Bill, despite its sponsor Senator Boniface Khalwale’s request to withdraw it amid public concerns.
The Bill, which aims to regulate motorcycle taxis at the county level, will now proceed to a second reading after the National Assembly voted against discharging it.
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Senate Speaker Amason Kingi had informed the National Assembly of the Senate’s decision to withdraw the Bill following widespread opposition from stakeholders.
Senator Khalwale, who sponsored the Bill, initially withdrew it after public participation revealed issues with some provisions.
However, the National Assembly dismissed the withdrawal request during a vote, with Speaker Moses Wetangula explaining that the Bill had already passed the Senate and needed to continue through the legislative process.
“He seems to have walked into a hostile group of boda bodas who frightened him to write a letter to say that although the Bill has passed through the Senate, he wants to withdraw it in this House. So we now put the question, if you want the Bill to go on, you vote no, if you want the Bill to die here, you vote yes,” Wetangula said.
The Bill was first introduced to the National Assembly on February 13, 2025, and was referred to the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure.
It includes provisions for registering boda boda riders, mandatory training covering safety and customer care, and requirements for safety gear such as helmets and reflective jackets.
The Bill also outlines rules on passenger safety, including that a boda boda rider should carry only one passenger seated properly with footrests and have the motorcycle’s headlights on at all times.
Following the vote, the Bill will return to the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure for further consideration, public participation, and eventual second reading in the House.
The Bill also calls for regular inspections to make sure boda bodas meet safety standards.
Motorcycles used for public transport will be treated as public service vehicles and must go through inspections and registration at the county level.
A notable feature of the proposed regulations is a three-year grace period for owners of older motorcycles to comply with the new rules, while all new motorcycles must show number plates at the front.
To help law enforcement distinguish commercial motorcycles from private ones, boda bodas will be branded with specific colour bands chosen by county authorities.
This move will assist police in easily identifying which motorcycles are operating as public service vehicles.
Furthermore, the Bill gives county governments the power to create their own motorcycle rules to meet local needs while keeping a consistent approach to public safety.
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