Boda boda riders to receive licenses at Sh100 daily for 61 days

Initiative seeks to encourage many boda operators to get licensed, reduce road fatalities

by Allan Kisia

Nairobi25 March 2025 - 13:30

In Summary

According to official data, out of the over five million riders who operate in the country, only two million are licensed.
High compliance fees prevent these riders from getting licensed and as a result, many of them resort to paying bribes.

More than 500 boda boda operators who enrolled to the Boda Licence na Mia initiative will receive licences after successfully completing rider, road safety and first aid training.

The Automobile Association of Kenya in collaboration with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and other partners started the initiative last year.

The initiative offers boda boda riders an opportunity to get licensed at Sh100 daily, for 61 days.

“The boda boda riders appreciate the need for licensing but find the overall cost which includes Sh8,000 for training plus Sh2,450 as NTSA fees prohibitive. This is especially so when required to pay it upfront,” AA Kenya CEO Francis Theuri stated.

As part of the recently launched national road safety action plan 2024-2028, the initiative seeks to encourage as many boda boda operators as possible to get licensed, so as to reduce road fatalities.

According to official data, out of the over five million riders who operate in the country, only two million are licensed.

NTSA proposes to introduce new regulations to monitor the sub-sector to improve compliance and reduce fatalities.

“Majority of boda boda riders are male, youth who are usually secondary school level educated. Most get into the sector informally through peer-to-peer training and therefore do not seek the required training and licences,” Theuri, added.

High compliance fees prevent these riders from getting licensed and as a result, many of them resort to paying bribes of between Sh50 to Sh100, when they are caught by county authorities and law enforcement officers, who often harass them for non-compliance.

Since its inception, 2000 riders have enrolled to the Boda licence na mia programme, whose first graduation will be held on March 28, 2025.

Upon successful completion of the training, riders shall be submitted for the government test so that they can acquire their driving licenses.

To mark their graduation, the riders, who come from various parts of Nairobi and Thika, will receive helmets, certificates and reflective jackets.