The Kisumu County Tuk Tuk Association has unveiled a digital registration system for its members in a drive to ensure enhanced safety, security, and sanity in the sector.
Speaking on Thursday when he spearheaded the onboarding of members plying the Kisumu – Busia route to the new system, the Association Chairperson, Michael Otieno Mboya, noted that the initiative is part of the ongoing reforms for the sector to regulate itself.
The registration process, he explained, is elaborate with the tuk-tuk operators’ particulars put in a database before they are issued with a digital sticker for ease of identification.
“By embracing technology, the tuk-tuk sector can overcome the existing challenges and usher in a new dawn of safety and efficiency,” Mboya stressed.
He decried that the largely unregulated sub-sector has been infiltrated by criminal and masqueraders who propagate criminal activities and go scot-free.
The new badges, added Mboya, will be issued to members by the base chairperson, upon presenting an Identity card and the driving license. Members will also be required to associate with a particular base and identify the route they will be plying.
“The badges will be issued through the grassroots leadership which is best placed to track and trace these operators. From today nobody will be allowed to operate tuk tuk in Kisumu City without the sticker. Anyone who will be found riding a tuk-tuk minus the document by January 1, 2024, will be arrested and prosecuted in a court of law,” Mboya cautioned.
Kisumu Central Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD), Peter Mulai speaking at the occasion, lauded the initiative and encouraged all the tuk-tuk operators in the area to fully embrace the new system that addresses security concerns and fosters accountability.
Mulai affirmed that the initiative is a shot in the arm as it will significantly help security agencies weed out criminals who are hiding in the tuk-tuk industry.
“With this technology in place, any individual who will commit any criminality or traffic offense, will be easily identified and face the law as an individual and not condemning the entire sector as has been the norm in the past. This will bring to an end the negative perception about this industry,” he stated.
The government, the OCPD added, seeks to digitize all its processes to improve service delivery to the citizens, and digitizing the tuk-tuk sector is a positive step towards the government’s agenda.
Matatus and buses providing public transport are regulated by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) responsible for vetting and issuing the Public Service Vehicle (PSV) stickers.
By Robert Ojwang’
