Nairobi Governor Ann Kananu has announced that boda boda riders in Nairobi will have biometric number plates with unique colour codes for easy identification.
The move comes after a meeting between City Hall and boda boda associations, during which they agreed on a slew of new stringent regulations aimed at streamlining a sector plagued by crime, indiscipline, and accidents.
Speaking yesterday at City Hall called for order and sanity to be restored in the Capital City by boda boda riders especially in the Central Business District.
“Sanity must be restored in Nairobi City County. All boda boda riders have to be registered through Saccos to enable the County Government to weed out rogue riders,” she said.
Kananu said that once the boda boda riders are registered at the Sub-County level, City Hall will issue them with County stickers to identify them from riders from other Counties.
“My administration will immediately form a committee to hold further discussions with the boda boda representatives to ensure that there is continued talks, compliance and orderliness in Nairobi City,” added Kananu.
The boda boda operators in Nairobi can also breathe a sigh of relief after Kananu ordered for unconditional release of impounded motorbikes with petty offences.
A similar development has been implemented by other counties like in Thika and Ruiru in Kiambu County and in Vihiga County.
“This will help us identify the real boda boda riders and the rogues who have infiltrated the industry. There are people who pose as boda boda riders yet they are criminals. However, they have assured us that they will identify such elements and have them arrested,” the governor said.
The Nairobi governor also announced that the city county government will release all impounded motorbikes which have been seized over petty offences.
“I have given an executive order for petty offenders with documents to have their motorcycles released. However, no boda bodas will be allowed to get into the city centre until we have streamlined the sector,” she said.