Molo Member of Parliament Kuria Kimani, on Monday, July 3, faced difficulties in his attempts to sell President William Ruto’s vision of revolutionising the boda-boda sector.
Ruto's plan to introduce electric motorbikes was met with scepticism as boda riders questions its potential impact and feasibility.
In a live interview on KTN News, Asborn Agayi, Chairman of Boda-boda Embakasi East, confronted the parliamentary Planning and Finance Committee chairman, accusing him of lying and misleading the public.
Kimani had argued that riders would realise huge profit margins should they embrace electric bikes, as advised by Ruto. Motorcycles fueled by petrol, he stated, were using Ksh5 per kilometre, which was quite expensive considering the cost of living.
“With an electric bike, a boda-boda rider will be using Ksh3 per kilometre,” Kuria stated that adopting Ruto's plan would reduce operating costs by 50 per cent and subsequently increase profits.
Contrary to Kimani's assurances, Agayi alleged that the riders would make little or no profit by ditching their fuel-powered motorbikes.
"The problem with high salaries individuals is that they are not familiar with the plight of the common mwananchi. My brother, with your suit, don't you see that you are lying?
“Before making such assertions, it is prudent to involve all stakeholders. To charge the battery, it takes 3-4 units which are Ksh120,” Agayi stated, adding that he had tested most of the electric bikes unveiled in Kenya.
He added that in addition to other rates, the cost of fully charging a motorcycle would rise to Ksh200, powering the bike up to 80 kilometres only.
According to Agayi, using Kimani’s Ksh3 per kilometre calculation, a rider can earn a paltry Ksh40 profit per 80 kilometres.
He further argued that electric bike components had to be imported, unlike petrol-fuelled motorcycles with readily available spare parts.
On Thursday, June 1, Ruto announced that his administration would introduce electric motorcycles starting September 2023 to lower the cost of transportation. The government, he added, was also at an advanced stage of launching an electric vehicle public transport system.
“We are rolling out an electric vehicle public transport system which will bring down the cost of transport significantly,” the President promised then.
In response to Ruto's pledge, Kenneth Onyango, the Chairman of the Kenya National Boda Boda Association, on Wednesday, June 14, advised the government to conduct public participation and civic education on the safety features of electric automobiles.
