Details of New NTSA Smart License All Boda Boda Riders Must Have

Boda boda riders at the junction of Kirinyaga and Racecourse Road in Nairobi on June 27, 2017.
Boda boda riders at the junction of Kirinyaga and Racecourse Road in Nairobi on June 27, 2017.
File

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is set to roll out the new smart driving licenses for motorists including boda boda riders.

Kenyans.co.ke on Monday, March 14, exclusively obtained details of the new Smart License revealing that it will be linked to the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).

The Boda boda Safety Association of Kenya founder and National Chairman Kevin Mubadi also noted that the license would be linked to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) for effective service delivery.

He further explained that for NHIF, the operators would be expected to foot the minimum Ksh500 contribution per month while for NSSF, there will be no capping. The rider will be free to contribute as much as possible with the minimum daily contribution pegged at Ksh36.

A photo showing National the Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) headquarters in Nairobi.
National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) headquarters in Nairobi.
Photo
NHIF

He further noted that the license would have the riders' personal details for easy tracing, especially when a crash occurs.

"The license already has the details of the rider but right now, under NTSA, the new smart license has a lot of information unlike the previous one and it is also digital. All these is just for easy tracing of the people.

"The smart license will have the name of the SACCO where the rider operates from. For you to get the licenses, you must be registered in a SACCO and the SACCO will be registered under the association so that it becomes a piece of digital information. Once you get the information, you go to NTSA for the license," he explained.

He further explained that the changes will be instrumental in empowering the operators financially with medical coverage and retirement plans.

For KRA, the operators will find it easy to access services such as purchasing land but its charges will depend on the tax brackets.

"The license will have NSSF, NHIF and KRA. KRA will help in buying the goods and land. Instead of moving around with PIN numbers, it will be in that license.

"We are going to Universal Health Coverage but we are also looking at the pension. It will be prudent for anybody who wants to live a good life, to pay NHIF for health purposes and retirement plans. The charges will follow a schedule. NHIF's flat rate is Ksh500 per month and NSSF, charges will depend on individuals. If you want to place Ksh100 or Ksh200 fine. Minimum per day for NSSF is Ksh36," he added.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i issued a directive demanding all boda boda riders to acquire new licenses in an effort to streamline the troubled sector.

Mubadi noted that all fees, ranging from license application to exam fees were waived to enable as many operators as possible to comply with the new directive.

"No one will be allowed to operate without the required documents. The first step will be to attend formal training and all fees have been waived by the government. They will only pay school fees charged by the individual school. The license is free as well as the exam," he stated.

The country has roughly 2.4 million operators who make 22 million trips resulting in a daily revenue stream of over Ksh1 billion.

NSSF building in Nairobi's Upper Hill.
NSSF building in Nairobi's Upper Hill.
Photo
NSSF
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