In line with the implementation of the National Road Safety Action Plan 2024-2028, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), continues to strengthen multi-agency coordination and leverage digital innovations to improve compliance, enforcement, and safety in the public transport sector.
The boda boda sub-sector, being one of the fastest-growing modes of transport in Kenya, remains a priority area for structured regulation, safety management, and data-driven oversight.
Eldoret City is among the major urban centres in Kenya currently experiencing a major challenge of boda boda riders riding recklessly and failing to obey traffic lights installed on major streets. This has led to many accidents and is endangering the lives of pedestrians.
These revelations came during a stakeholders’ engagement that brought together representatives of the Uasin Gishu County Government, NTSA, and senior police officers. Participants emphasised the need to streamline the boda boda sector to enhance order and overall safety.
The meeting was chaired by Moiben Deputy County Commissioner Duncan Okwach, who was representing Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Eddyson Nyale. He emphasised the need for transport stakeholders in Uasin Gishu County to support strategies to improve the boda boda sector by enhancing safety for riders and passengers, and reducing serious incidents associated with the sector.
Why do bodabodas ride recklessly?
The Director of Berur Driving School, Henry Barno, said the main problem is that many boda boda riders lack formal training.
“Most boda boda riders have not received any training on road traffic laws, and they ride dangerously. As a school, we are ready to partner with the government to provide training to those riders,” Barno said.
He added: “We are appealing to every Member of Parliament, the County Government and the National Government to allocate funds to help Kenyans who earn a living through the boda boda sector to get training. This is to prevent the chaos currently being witnessed in the middle of Eldoret Town.”
He noted that most boda boda riders need training on discipline, how to avoid crime, and how to prevent avoidable accidents.
“Our institution has started a low-cost program to help drivers and motorcyclists, and we are asking leaders to intervene and sponsor it,” he said.
Samuel Mwangi from NTSA took participants through the Boda Boda Management System, BMS – a flagship digital intervention under the National Road Safety Plan aimed at: enhancing institutional coordination and enforcement of motorcycle operations, promoting safety, legal and accountable public service motorcycle operations through structured registration and supporting data-driven decision making for road safety management at both the national and county levels.
“To this end, the Authority has developed the Boda Boda Management System, BMS: a centralised digital platform designed to register, regulate, and monitor motorcycle taxi operations across the country,” Mwangi explained.
Bodaboda-related accidents in Kenya
NTSA reported that 431 lives were lost in just the first three months of a recent year. Police data further cited up to 9,996 casualties over a span of 17 months. Boda boda operators and their passengers account for more than 65% of the average 4,000 road fatalities recorded annually in the country.
Uasin Gishu County CECM for Roads Abraham Serem advised that every boda boda operator should be registered through SACCOs and identified using a digital system, in addition to receiving regular training.
“Governor Jonathan Bii has been at the forefront in supporting the boda boda sector. He recently held a meeting with them. We want to ensure this sector becomes better,” CECM Serem said.
The strategies also aim to reduce crime, enhance accountability, prevent criminals from posing as boda boda riders, and ensure that riders receive appropriate support from the county.
Chief Officer for Roads Geoffrey Tanui said the county government is working on other strategies to improve the sector. He noted there have been concerns from residents and other road users over reports of some boda boda riders defying traffic lights in the city, being linked to crime, and not using designated stages.
