The National Assembly has voted to proceed with the Public Transport (Motorcycle Regulation) Bill—popularly known as the Boda Boda Bill—despite Senator Boniface Khalwale’s formal request to withdraw it following intense public backlash.
The proposed legislation, which seeks to streamline motorcycle taxi operations across counties, will now move to a second reading after MPs rejected the Senate’s withdrawal request.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi had earlier informed the Assembly of the decision to drop the Bill, citing overwhelming opposition during public participation. Senator Khalwale also withdrew his support, admitting some proposals were contentious.
However, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula dismissed the withdrawal, stating that since the Bill had already cleared the Senate, it must go through the full legislative process.
“He seems to have walked into a hostile group of boda bodas who frightened him to write a letter… So we now put the question: if you want the Bill to go on, vote no; if you want the Bill to die here, vote yes,” Wetangula said during the session.
The Bill, introduced in the National Assembly on February 13, 2025, proposes sweeping reforms, including mandatory registration of boda boda riders, safety and customer care training, and the use of safety gear like helmets and reflective jackets.
It also limits riders to one properly seated passenger and mandates that motorcycles keep headlights on at all times.
Further, it categorizes motorcycles used for transport as public service vehicles, subjecting them to regular inspections and registration at the county level.
To distinguish commercial riders from private users, counties will assign unique colour bands, and all new motorcycles must display front number plates. A three-year grace period will be given for older motorcycles to comply.
The Bill also empowers county governments to tailor specific motorcycle transport rules to local needs, provided they align with national safety standards.
With the National Assembly’s vote, the Bill returns to the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure for further scrutiny and public input before its second reading.
