Boda boda riders to receive licenses at Ksh.100 daily

Over 500 boda boda operators who enrolled to the ‘Boda License na Mia’ initiative that was started last year by the Automobile Association of Kenya will receive their licenses after successfully completing rider, road safety and first aid training.

The initiative, which was launched in collaboration with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and other partners, offers boda boda riders an opportunity to get licensed at Ksh.100 daily, for 61 days.

As part of the recently launched National Road Safety Action Plan 2024-2028, the initiative seeks to encourage as many boda boda operators as possible to get licensed, so as to reduce road fatalities.

According to official data, out of the over five million riders who operate in the country, only two million are licensed. NTSA proposes to introduce new regulations to monitor the sub-sector to improve compliance and reduce fatalities.

“Majority of boda boda riders are male youth who are usually secondary school level educated. Most get into the sector informally through peer-to-peer training and therefore do not seek the required training and licences,” said AA Kenya CEO Francis Theuri.

High compliance fees prevent these riders from getting licensed and as a result, many of them resort to paying bribes of between Ksh.50 to Ksh.100, when they are caught by county authorities and law enforcement officers, who often harass them for non-compliance.

“The boda boda riders appreciate the need for licensing but find the overall cost which includes Ksh.8,000 for training plus Ksh.2,450 as NTSA fees prohibitive. This is especially so when required to pay it upfront,” states Theuri.

Since its inception, 2,000 riders have enrolled to the ‘Boda Licence na Mia’ program, whose first graduation will be held on March 28, 2025.

To mark their graduation, the riders, who come from various parts of Nairobi and Thika, will receive helmets, certificates and reflective jackets.