The government has announced a nationwide training program for boda boda riders through the National Youth Service (NYS) at a cost of Ksh.750 per rider.
The project was launched by ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru on Thursday. The CS said that the riders will be trained on safety and general behaviour on the roads.
“By and large, one of the big asks by boda boda riders is in regards to training and licensing. This process is not an event. It is a programme that we hope to complete in the next few months to ensure that all riders are trained and ensure that they obtain requisite skills and licenses,” Mucheru said.
NYS Council Chairperson General Lt. Gen (Rtd) Njuki Mwaniki, who also spoke during the launch told the riders that the boda boda sector is one of the biggest in the country.
“In this regard, we are rolling out a training programme to cover all constituencies in the country,” Mwaniki said.
The NYS boss said that the some of the objectives the training aims to achieve include discipline and obedience to traffic laws and highway code; imparting knowledge to enable riders understand the characteristics of motorcycles and their maintenance; first aid, preventive hygiene, how to deal with accidents and road courtesy; and how to obtain licenses.
The move comes at the time when the political class is scrambling for boda boda riders to win grass root support for BBI and ahead of 2022.
