New technology has been unveiled to tame the bodaboda industry with over 7,000 motorbikes adopting the application in Ruiru, Kiambu County.
The bodabodas have been fitted with digital number plates that will enable the government to efficiently regulate the sector that has been growing over the years.
The technology uses a bar code which when scanned, provides the name, the stage, phone number, the ward and the number of the stage chairman.
Lawrence Kariuki, chairman of bodaboda riders in Ruiru emphasized on the benefits of the new technology in times of an emergency.
"It is of great help for us as bodaboda operators because if I'm involved in an accident and cannot speak, rescuers can scan my details and help me," he explained.
According to the National Crime Research Centre, bodaboda riders have been blamed for increased robberies, causing death by dangerous riding, breach of public order and smuggling of illegal goods in the country.
Police officers from the region hope that the riders will adhere to the set rules and guidelines to avoid more deaths in the sector.
"I hope bodaboda operators will adhere to those rules and regulations so that we shall avoid issues of fatalities," said one of the officers.
Ruiru MP Simon King'ara urged other bodaboda operators across the country to adopt the new technology.
"We would like other areas to also adopt the system and get digital number plates that have different colours depending on the area of operations," he noted.
This comes after President Uhuru presided over the signing of a major partnership between Boda Boda Safety Association of Kenya (BAK), Capital Markets Authority, an oil marketer and an investment firm in October.
The Head of State, delved deep into the intricacies of how bodaboda operators could soon call the shots if they took heed to his advice.
