Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has been elected patron of bodaboda and tuk-tuk operators, representing over 2.5 million riders countrywide. The decision was made during a meeting at Sonko's Mua Farm in Machakos, where sector leaders noted his leadership would help address their challenges and improve engagement with the government. A key issue raised was the Public Transport (Motorcycle Regulation) Bill 2023, sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Boni Khalwale.
The Bill, passed by the Senate last month and now awaiting National Assembly approval, seeks to regulate bodaboda operations through mandatory registration, training, and stricter licensing. It proposes that riders complete approved courses covering safe riding techniques, customer care, emergency handling, and motorcycle maintenance before being licensed.
The law also mandates that every rider wear two Kenya Bureau of Standards-approved helmets and reflective jackets in good condition. At the same time, the Bill imposes hefty penalties for violations, including a Sh20,000 fine or six months in jail for riding on pavements or in the wrong direction.
Riders who gang up to intimidate others could face a Sh100,000 fine or one-year imprisonment.
