Parliament has revealed plans to proceed with the Public Transport Motorcycle Regulation Bill, 2025, which aims to regulate the boda boda sector in the country.
According to the legislature, despite Kakamega Senator, Boni Khalwale, penning a letter to the Senate's Speaker Amason Kingi, who later forwarded the proposal to the National Assembly, Moses Wetang'ula, the majority of the National Assembly gave a green light for the bill to proceed.
The Kakamega senator had sought to withdraw the bill, citing widespread public outcry regarding some of the provisions of the bill.
"The bill, which aims to regulate Kenya’s boda boda (motorcycle taxi) sector, was passed by the Senate but faced resistance from the public and stakeholders over certain provisions," Parliament said in a statement on Tuesday, July 22.
"In a letter dated March 7, 2025, the Senate Speaker relayed Khalwale's request to withdraw the Bill, citing public outcry. Despite this appeal, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetang’ula, ruled that the consideration of the Bill would proceed after a majority vote rejected the withdrawal request," it added.
According to Parliament, the lawmakers will set up public participation forums to engage all stakeholders, thoroughly scrutinize the bill, and amend it, if needed.
The bill aims to introduce new provisions for the registration, operation, and safety of all Bodaboda operators at the county level.
If it sails through, county governments will be required to engineer a County Motorcycle Transport and Safety Board, which will oversee rider registration, training, and operations of boda boda operators.
Furthermore, boda boda operators in the country will be required to join a SACCO in addition to undergoing mandatory training, which will cover safety, etiquette, and emergency response.
Furthermore, the senator proposed hefty fines, including a Ksh20,000 penalty for any boda boda rider caught riding on a pedestrian walkway. He also pushed for a Ksh100,000 fine or a one-year prison sentence for boda boda riders who collude with others to harm someone.
"The Kenya Bureau of Standards and Digital Boda Association support the Bill with proposed amendments. A ride-hailing company has also backed the initiative but suggests revisions," Parliament stated.
"In contrast, the Boda boda Safety Association of Kenya has outright rejected the Bill, calling it harmful to livelihoods," it added.
