NTSA announces changes to license fees, speed limits
NTSA announces changes to license fees, speed limits
The National Transport and Safety Authority ( NTSA) on Saturday, April 19, announced plans to reduce operation licence fees and introduce a mandatory 80km/h speed limit for boda bodas.
The sweeping changes, according to NTSA Chairman Khatib Mwashetani, aim to enhance safety and encourage boda boda riders to undergo more comprehensive training before applying for licenses.
The NTSA also stated that lowering the fees would help reduce perceived barriers and promote full compliance within the notoriously unregulated boda boda sector.
Currently, the cumulative fee for obtaining a boda boda license plus training is around Ksh10,000, a significant amount for many riders. Under the planned reforms, the government intends to reduce the fees by more than half, while also providing incentives for riders to comply.
“Currently, acquiring a boda boda license costs nearly Ksh15,000—Ksh3,000 for the driving license and Ksh10,000 for training. As the government, we plan to reduce this cost to as low as Ksh3,000 under very favourable conditions,” Mwashetani stated.
Additional changes include a rule that only two persons— the rider and one passenger—should be on board at any given time. Both the rider and the passenger will also be required to wear reflective jackets. According to the NTSA, this is crucial in ensuring compliance, especially given that many boda bodas often violate capacity regulations.
“A boda boda will only carry two people—the rider and the passenger. Both of them must also wear reflective jackets,” Mwashetani added.
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Kenya has over one million registered boda boda riders, and authorities hope that these reforms will mark a turning point in reducing accidents and fostering a culture of road safety across the country.
The latest comes after a Bill forwarded in the Senate by Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale aimed at streamlining the sector, required boda boda riders to install trackers and insure themselves with a cooperative society.
The Public Transport (Motorcycle Regulation) Bill 2023 seeks to establish a County Motorcycle Transport and Safety Board in every county. The board shall be responsible for the regulation, management, and coordination of all matters relating to the bodaboda transport sector within the county.
A core function of the board would be managing and controlling motorcycle transport services within the county, including registration and licensing of motorcycle riders, designated parking, and routes.
In the Bill, anyone who wishes to operate a motorcycle for commercial purposes would be required to register with the respective County Executive Committee Members and pay the prescribed fee.
The Bill also places a Ksh20,000 fine or a jail term not exceeding six months or both for anyone who rides a motorcycle on a pavement or pedestrian walkway.
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