Bodaboda operators in Trans Nzia County have a reason to smile.
This is after Governor George Natembeya announced a reduction in sticker fees for the operators.
In a post on his verified Twitter handle, the governor serving his first term said starting January 30, 2023, the bodaboda operators will be paying Ksh500 for their sticker fees annually.
The decision, Natembeya said, is part of fulfilling his campaign pledges.
During the campaign, the county boss that vied for the seat on a Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) ticket under the Azimio coalition said sticker fees that the operators were paying were too high.
He pledged to reduce them to Ksh500 – which he has now kept.
“BodaBodas play a significant role in our economy as a county, therefore levies laid to them should be reasonable. During my campaign, I pledged to reduce sticker fees from 3,600 to 500 per annum. With Effect From 30/1/2023 bodaboda sticker fees will be 500,” Natembeya tweeted.
BodaBodas play a significant role in our economy as a county, therefore levies laid to them should be reasonable. During my campaign, I pledged to reduce sticker fees from 3,600 to 500 per annum. With Effect From 30/1/2023 bodaboda sticker fees will be 500. pic.twitter.com/TdkA4fPDam
— George Natembeya EBS (@Natembeya_G) January 30, 2023
Bodaboda is today ranked among the sectors that create a large number of employment opportunities for Kenyan youth.
A March 2022 study done by Car & General (C&G) indicated that the sector provides one million direct jobs for riders earning Ksh1 billion daily.
The study further revealed that the sector supports six million livelihoods indirectly – which is about 10 per cent of the country’s population.
“There are 1.2 million riders in Kenya. Nine out of 10 are used for commercial purposes, representing over one million jobs created. Seventy-five per cent are youth and six per cent are female,” said the C&G report.
