New initiative to ease licensing costs for boda boda riders, reduce road fatalities

Bodaboda operators will now have an opportunity to acquire licenses at an affordable rate, as the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and AA Kenya partners for the exercise.

The initiative dubbed 'Boda License na Mia', allows riders to get licensed by paying just Sh100 daily for 61 days.

The Ministry of Roads and Transport released the National Road Safety Action Plan 2024-2028 in April, and this program is a crucial component of it.

It was a critical step in the government's efforts to improve road safety and reduce the alarmingly high rate of accidents nationally.

On Thursday, AA Kenya CEO Francis Theuri noted that expensive compliance fees dissuade many boda boda riders from obtaining a licence.

As a result, they often resort to paying bribes between Sh50 to Sh100 when caught by county authorities and law enforcement officers, who frequently harass them for non-compliance.

"The boda boda riders appreciate the need for licensing but find the overall cost which includes Sh8,000 for training plus Sh2,450 as NTSA fees prohibitive,'' Theuri said.

The campaign intends to encourage more boda boda operators to obtain licenses, hence reducing traffic fatalities.

Official data shows that out of over five million riders in the country, only two million are currently licensed.

Every year, around 400,000 people join the bodaboda sector. With a small deposit, a guarantor, and a Kenya Revenue Authority pin, anyone can become a boda boda rider without any training.

Many riders opt for backstreet training that lasts less than a day because it's cheap.

Proper driving schools charge Sh6,000 for a month-long motorcycle training course which is considered too expensive.

This shortcut often leads to deadly consequences as bodaboda operators continue to lead in road crash fatalities.

In 2023, Bodaboda operators had 1,133 deaths, compared to 1,255 in 2022.

In 2021, at least 1,634 motorcyclists and their passengers died in crashes, the highest number of fatalities recorded.

The previous year saw 1,026 deaths from January to September.

In 2019, 1,421 riders and pillion passengers died, compared to 1,049 drivers and their passengers.

NTSA proposes to introduce new regulations to monitor the sub-sector to improve compliance and reduce fatalities.

"Most riders get into the sector informally through peer-to-peer training and therefore do not seek the required professional training and licenses," Theuri noted.

NTSA chairman Manoj Shah stated that the authority acknowledged the significant role of the Boda Boda sector, thus they will recognise the need for more effective regulation.

"We all use boda bodas; they support many micro and small enterprises as well as small-holder farmers. They do our deliveries, get us from point A to B and handle our emergencies," he said.