Ruto maintains stand on electric boda boda

By Peter Ochieng

President William Ruto insists he is on a mission to transform the boda boda sector in the country.

Speaking on Monday at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Ruto insisted his plan of exchanging fuel motorbikes to electric one is still in course.

He said 10, 000 motorbikes otherwise known as boda bodas will be in Kenya, by September 01, 2023.

"When I promised that we will have electric boda bodas, people thought I was just telling stories. I am not a storyteller and I did not say that at night. Whoever thinks the electric boda boda promise was a story will be disapproved soon," said the Head of State.

He said he will no longer use boda boda for politics, adding that like any other business, the sector must be respected.

He added that training and licences for boda boda operators will come down from Sh8,000 to Sh2,500.

The President said that 116,000 boda boda riders will get free National Hospital and Insurance Fund (NHIF) family cover, starting immediately.

Data indicate that the country has over 1 million boda boda riders.

"The formalisation of Boda Boda through SACCOs will elevate the sector’s profile, offer a platform to upgrade the well-being of operators and spur access to affordable credit. This will transition this plank of our economy into a sustainable and reliable transportation system in the long-run," said Ruto.