Formalizing the Boda Boda sector will unlock Its role in national development, PS Omollo says

The government will adopt a balanced approach which only targets criminal and not the entire sector in dealing with the few criminal elements within the boda boda sector.

The Interior Ministry is also enhancing engagement with the boda boda sector to transform it into a disciplined and united industry that will participate proactively in national development programmes.

The sector, which has for long been associated with disorder, plays a critical role in Kenya’s economic and social landscape.

According to the Internal Security Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, the operators are not just riders but also entrepreneurs, providers, and essential service providers whose contribution keeps the country moving.

Some of the measures already put in place include working closely with the National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) and maintaining a digital register of the riders and registering them in Saccos.

“While the bodaboda sector often faces public ridicule and negative stereotyping, it remains a vital pillar in national development. There is a need for the government to work closely with riders, and not against them, as they are key to community safety and connectivity,” the PS said.

The PS emphasized the importance of community policing and called on riders to be part of the national security ecosystem through intelligence-sharing and mutual respect with law enforcement officers.

“We will not allow criminals to hide behind helmets, but we will also not treat every rider as a suspect. We are here to work with you, not against you,” he stated.

The riders have also formed a SACCO and other associations that give them a collective voice and bargaining power.

The riders have also been urged to register formally under structured systems such as the Bodaboda Information Management System (BIMS) since organized groups can negotiate better insurance premiums, secure loans, and benefit from government and private sector partnerships.

The riders have also been told to take full advantage of ongoing government programs, including the Affordable Housing and Universal Health Coverage initiatives.

The PS also said the boda boda community stands to benefit immensely from the Boma Yangu platform, through which Kenyans can gradually contribute towards homeownership.

He further urged them to enroll in the Social Health Authority program, which ensures access to medical treatment for all.

The PS was speaking during a bodaboda leaders’ engagement forum in Kajiado County that was also attended by the President of the Boda Boda Association of Kenya, Kevin Mubadi, county security officials, bodaboda leadership, and National Government Administrative Officers.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has in the past partnered with the Boda Boda Association of Kenya to create potential synergy in the delivery of sexual reproductive health right, the two organisations had also committed to promote gender equity and end gender-based violence.