Over one thousand boda boda riders in Laikipia County have been registered since the exercise kicked-off last week.
Permanent Secretary (PS) for Trade and Industrialization, Amb. Johnson Weru, told a media briefing that the exercise was essential because to regulate and facilitate the development of a database of all the operators within the sector.
“We have given boda boda operators a critical policy with regard to the registration, shedding light on the importance of having a regulation in the sector,” said the PS, urging the motor cyclists to come out in large numbers and get enrolled in the programme.
The PS added that the first 200,000 boda boda riders to get registered would benefit from a 12-months National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) medical cover.
The PS noted that the registration would be rolled out in other towns within the county aimed at enhancing the geographical spread of the county and promoting road safety and security for the operators and their users.
“I would like to indicate that we will be rolling out this registration in other bigger towns within the County, especially Nyahururu and Rumuruti, and we believe we will be able to cover the targeted number,” said the PS.
County boda boda Association Chairman, Cyrus Kimathi, said they will cooperate with authorities in a bid to restore sanity in the boda boda sector.
On Monday, March 28, the government launched the registration of boda boda operators and the issuance of Smart Driving Licences to qualified riders in all the 52 Huduma Centres across the country and the exercise is expected to run for 60 days.
To get registered the riders are expected to present themselves in person and have original ID, an active registered phone number, and a copy of KRA PIN number.
The County targets to enlist at least 6,200 riders.
By Muturi Mwangi and Cynthia Ronoh
