AA Kenya partners with NTSA to assist boda boda riders acquire licences

The initiative aims to equip riders with essential skills and ensure they are properly licensed at an affordable rate. Riders can obtain their licenses by paying Ksh.100 daily for 61 days, easing the financial burden. 

The training covers traffic regulations, defensive riding, and first aid, preparing riders for road challenges. The first group of trainees will graduate on September 30th, marking a significant step in enhancing road safety in Kenya's bodaboda sector.

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 professional training and licences,” says Francis Theuri, GMD of AA Kenya.

The Ministry of Roads and Transport earlier this year, through the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), officially launched the National Road Safety Action Plan 2024-2028. 

The launch seeks to boost the government’s ongoing efforts to safeguard the safety and well-being of every citizen on the roads by curtailing the alarming rate of road accidents. 

Acknowledging the significant role of the boda boda sector in Kenya's transportation landscape, the plan recognizes the need for more effective regulation. 

With approximately 2.5 million registered boda bodas, of which 1.8 million are active, the plan advocates for better driver education and stringent enforcement of traffic regulations especially among riders.