Boda boda operators have announced nationwide demonstrations should Parliament fail to dismiss the controversial Public Transport (Motorcycle Regulations) Bill, sponsored by Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale.
Addressing the press on Tuesday, March 4, in Nairobi, the Chairperson of the Boda Boda Association of Kenya (BAK), Kevin Mubadi, accused the Kakamega legislator of attempting to sabotage the boda boda sector.
Mubadi claimed that despite the sector’s immense contributions to the economy, there were heinous plans to impose additional levies on the operators.
While expressing his frustrations over the Bill, Mubadi called on Khalwale to withdraw the proposed law immediately and provide written confirmation of its withdrawal.
According to the BAK Chairperson, boda boda riders will be proceeding with a nationwide demonstration should the National Assembly fail to withdraw the bill by Tuesday, March 11.
“We as the boda boda sector, we always support the government and we have been running our business peacefully, but on this bill, we object,” Mubadi lamented.
“If you see us demonstrating, we will be doing so to protect our jobs, and even how we will be performing our duties. We give you up to Friday to withdraw this bill and write a letter on the same,” he added.
The pronouncement comes barely a week after Khalwale revealed plans to withdraw the Motorcycle Regulations Bill after an uproar from the operators who faulted him for attempting to suppress the source of their livelihood.
Speaking to journalists on February 25, Khalwale explained that he sponsored the controversial bill to regulate the sector, which he accused of occasionally flouting traffic rules.
According to him, he sponsored the bill to reduce fatalities involving boda operators and bring sanity to Kenyan roads, further maintaining that the proposed legislation was not meant to oppress the youth but to benefit them.
"I have always been known for fighting for the weak. I have been seeing our young boda boda riders losing their lives in accidents, so I came up with the bill to solve such problems," Khalwale said.
"I thought of a lot of things in this bill, but I have seen several people opposing it so that our young men can continue to suffer, but tomorrow I will be going back to the Senate so that the bill can be dropped, I do not want to fight with the youth," he added.
The bill sought to compel registration of boda boda operations by county governments and ensure that every boda operator owns a valid employment contract with the owners.
Additionally, the proposal demanded that all motorcycles be fitted with tracking devices and a Ksh20,000 fine for operators riding on pedestrian walkways.
