The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), alongside the National Police Service (NPS), has begun piloting unique identification numbers for boda boda riders nationwide, starting in Nairobi. The move seeks to regulate a sector criticized for flouting traffic laws. Boniface Otieno, NPS traffic liaison in Nairobi, explained that the program will assign riders numbers distinct from their vehicle plates.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), in partnership with the National Police Service (NPS) and various multi-agency teams, is gearing up to pilot unique identification numbers for boda boda riders across Kenya, beginning in Nairobi. The effort targets regulating an industry long criticized by motorists and the public for riders' apparent disregard of traffic rules and safety standards.
Boniface Otieno, the NPS Traffic Department liaison in Nairobi, stated that the pilot will register all motorcyclists and issue them numbers separate from their vehicles' existing plates, enabling authorities to monitor their activities. “Currently, we are having a multiagency discussion headed by NTSA. We are doing a pilot at Nairobi City where we intend to register all motorcyclists whom we want to register and give them a separate number apart from the number plate, which is already online,” Otieno said in an NTV interview.
The government views this as a response to rising concerns that some riders exploit anonymity to venture beyond assigned routes, commit traffic offenses, or pursue illicit activities. It also addresses grievances from the Matatu Owners Association (MOA) and the Motorists Association, who have warned of halting all matatu services in Nairobi on Monday to protest attacks on buses by unruly riders.
Otieno emphasized that the new system will be rigorously enforced, rejecting notions that police are easing off traffic policing in this area. He highlighted plans for intensified crackdowns on riders who overtake on the wrong side or encroach on pedestrian paths, underscoring public safety risks. “When a road incident occurs, law enforcement will investigate and ensure compensation, rather than allowing individuals to take the law into their own hands,” he added.
The Nairobi pilot is set to guide a national rollout, as NTSA and collaborators seek to instill order in the motorcycle transport sector, vital to Kenya's economy. The Boda Boda Safety Association of Kenya (BAK) notes that it currently employs about 1.6 million riders, including nearly 1.3 million youth.
This initiative forms part of broader reforms to uphold integrity in traffic enforcement, with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) backing anti-bribery measures. Otieno commended EACC's work and confirmed that Inspector General Douglas Kanja has greenlit an internal unit to decisively address officers soliciting or accepting bribes.