Boda boda riders across Kenya are warning of nationwide protests if parliament pushes ahead with a controversial bill that seeks to tighten regulations in the motorcycle sector.
Appearing in front of the National Assembly’s Transport Committee, the Boda Boda Safety Association of Kenya (BAK) strongly objected to the bill, calling it punitive, bureaucratic, and uncaring to the dynamics of the business.
“This bill is a problem in search of a solution,” the association says in its memorandum, arguing that the draft law duplicates the role of the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), infringes on county government functions, and can politicise an already weak industry.
Among the most contentious proposals are the creation of 47 county-level Motorcycle Transport and Safety Boards and the requirement that all riders join SACCOs.
According to the association, these moves could fuel corruption and push many riders out of business due to higher operating costs.
“Instead of improving the sector, this bill would cripple the livelihoods of thousands who depend on boda bodas to feed their families,” said one association leader during the hearing.Still, lawmakers urged the riders not to reject the bill entirely. Bureti MP Komingoi Kibet encouraged the association to propose amendments.
Security concerns also dominated the session. MPs Abdi Saney and Hussein Weytan pointed to the rising misuse of motorcycles in crime, from drug trafficking to attacks on civilians, as a key motivation behind the bill.
To address enforcement gaps, the Office of the Inspector-General of Police proposed the formation of a multi-agency task force that includes NTSA, police, county governments, and rider associations to coordinate better oversight without stifling the sector.
For now, tension remains high as riders await the committee’s final decision, one that could determine the future of Kenya’s fast-growing motorcycle transport industry.
