Commercial motorcycles, widely referred to as boda bodas, will soon be required to sport designated colors and undergo regular inspections as part of a new initiative aimed at regulating the industry.
Additionally, boda bodas must display their registration number plates on both the front and back, akin to standard motor vehicles.
These changes are part of a series of amendments proposed by the Senate Roads and Transportation Committee to the Public Transportation (Motorcycle Regulations) Bill, 2023.
Spearheaded by Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, the Bill aims to bring order to the sector and address the issue of unruly riders.
“The main goal of this Bill is to establish a legal framework for the regulation of motorcycle (boda boda) and three-wheeler (tuk-tuk) operations in Kenya, introducing new guidelines for their registration, operation, and safety at the county level,” the Bill outlines.
According to the committee’s report, lawmakers are urging the National Transport and Safety Authority and the Ministry of Transport to amend the Traffic (Registration Plates) Rules to mandate that motorcycles also display number plates at the front.
Owners of older motorcycles will have a three-year grace period to comply, while all new motorcycles must have front number plates from the outset.
The committee noted that motorcycles used for public transport should be inspected and registered as Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) within the county.
“The committee recommends an amendment to ensure that motorcycles utilized for public transport are inspected and registered as PSVs,” stated the report presented by chairman Karungo Thang’wa.
Moreover, the committee proposes that owners of commercially used motorcycles must have their bikes branded with a color scheme designated by the county executive committee member for transport.
This measure, the panel believes, will help law enforcement—specifically police officers—quickly differentiate between PSV motorcycles, which are governed by this legislative framework, and private motorcycles that are not.
The committee is seeking to strengthen the Bill by adding a new clause that would enable counties to create their own specific legislation.
Recent statistics from the NTSA reveal that boda bodas have been responsible for the highest number of road fatalities.
During the last quarter of the year—specifically from October to December—passengers, pedestrians, and motorcycle riders, along with their passengers, suffered the most from road accidents, resulting in nearly 800 fatalities, compared to 450 among drivers and riders.
In total, there are approximately 2.5 million registered boda bodas in the country, with 1.8 million actively in use.
Currently under consideration in the Senate, the Bill suggests implementing stringent regulations for boda operators, which include mandatory training for riders and the possibility of license revocation for those involved in criminal activities.
Additionally, the proposed legislation mandates that riders must belong to a registered cooperative society, aiming to enhance sector regulation and improve safety measures.
The Bill states, “No individual shall operate a motorcycle without having successfully completed a training course sanctioned by the board.”
It also stipulates that anyone who owns or operates a motorcycle for commercial purposes must register with a Savings and Cooperative Society recognized under the Cooperative Societies Act.
