The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has partnered with Watu Credit to sensitize boda boda riders operating within Kisii on road safety and issue them with logbooks.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting at Kisii Cultural Hall in Kisii town, NTSA South Nyanza Regional Manager Adan Adow said they are collaborating with different partners to tackle road-related matters because road safety is a shared responsibility.
“We are having a 3-days’ engagement with riders in terms of road safety sensitization and issuance of service delivery, including giving logbooks and addressing queries related to NTSA,” noted Adow.
The Regional Manager pointed out that boda boda operators were critical in their efforts to improve road safety, especially in Kisii and they had intensified road safety awareness campaigns.
He decried the significant rise in the number of lives lost in road accidents in the country within the last two years, saying that 4,748 lives were lost in 2024, compared to 4,324 people who died in 2023.
“Out of the 4,748 individuals who died in road accidents last year, the category of vulnerable users, including motorcycle riders, pillion passengers and pedestrians, contributed to 70 percent of the fatalities,” Adow noted.
As part of the intervention measures, he called for the support of the county government to facilitate the registration of boda boda saccos for purposes of streamlining their operations.
In addition, the Regional Manager said they had established a County Transport and Safety Committee, which has been tasked with identifying and addressing the specific transport challenges within Kisii County.
According to Adow, the team will assist in monitoring the sector more effectively and help in the issuance of logbooks to the riders for easier identification and regulation.
“The ownership of a vehicle is paramount for purposes of engagement in terms of access to finance or even, in case of any incident or accident, you are able to prove ownership of the machine that you own by providing a logbook or registration certificate,” he said.
During the engagement, Watu also installed and repaired GPS trackers on motorbikes to curb rampant theft that has continued to threaten the industry and limit economic stability for the riders.
“Watu’s initiative to safeguard customers’ assets mirrors global trends in leveraging technology to improve transport security and financial inclusion,” Watu Commercial Manager Chris Rumenda said.
The event, part of Watu’s initiative to bring services closer to the people, also included the issuance of 2,000 uncollected logbooks to customers who had completed their loan repayments.
“We are proactively facilitating the logbook collection process to ensure full ownership for our customers. We aim to ensure that all customers who have completed their loan repayments receive their logbooks, strengthening their financial independence,” added Rumenda.
On his part, Kisii Governor Simba Arati lauded the stakeholders who expressed their commitment to empowering the boda boda operators.
Arati urged the partners to work together with the county government to organise corporate social responsibility activities that will be beneficial to the riders and the communities at large.
The boda boda sector remains a cornerstone of Kenya’s transport sector, providing employment to over 1.2 million riders and facilitating mobility in rural and urban areas.
By Mercy Osongo and Ruth Boyani
