Boda boda riders in Nairobi are set to benefit from a new pilot program initiated by the government to organize the transport sector.
This was made possible through a new program initiated by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) in partnership with the National Police Service (NPS), where they will issue each boda boda rider his own identification number, unlike his motorbike plate.
According to the traffic police liaison officer, Boniface Otieno, discussions regarding the new program have been underway, where it has been agreed that Nairobi will be the first in the country before they move to other parts of the country.
Under this new program, all boda boda riders in the city will be given his own number, which will only be associated with him and not his motorbike. This will enable one to know who is using a given motorbike at a given time.
This comes at a time when the government has been facing complaints from residents that some of these riders do not observe road rules and have been operating in areas where they do not need to be.
Other transport groups have also been raising concerns about the new regulations. Recently, the Matatu Owners Association and the Motorists Association complained about the rise in cases of disorder and the threat of protests regarding the actions of rogue riders.
Otieno explained that the introduction of the new regulations does not mean that the traffic police are stepping back from their duties, but the regulations are meant to be more strictly enforced, especially on rogue riders using the walkways and those who overtake recklessly.
Otieno further explained that in case of accidents, the law should be allowed to take its course and that people should not take the law into their own hands.
The regulations have also been extended to the integrity of the traffic department staff. Otieno explained that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission is on board to ensure the fight against bribery, and the Inspector General, Douglas Kanja, has cleared his teams to act against any staff found engaging in corruption.
The introduction of the regulations in Nairobi is crucial in the rollout of the regulations countrywide, as the boda boda industry is a major source of employment, with estimates indicating that there are about 1.6 million boda riders in the
