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The government has waived the Sh5,800 fee for smart riders’ licence and directed that all boda boda riders acquire licences in the next two months.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i yesterday said President Uhuru Kenyatta had directed that the fee be waived to ensure that all of them are licenced.

The operators have 60 days from March 21, to register their motorcycles, form saccos and obtain smart licenses to remain in business.

Matiang’i said the riders are also expected to join Saccos in their respective areas of operation and that they will all be required to supply documents including police clearance certificate; which will also be used in vetting them.

Vetting process

Reports indicate that some riders were claiming they could not raise the fee just to avoid obtaining the licence.

“Revenue was a barrier to cleaning the sector and it became a hideout for criminals. It is better to forego revenue for a clean sector,” the CS said.

As a result, all Huduma Centres across the country will register the riders. They will need to have certificates of good conduct and join a Sacco as part of the vetting process.

“If you do not have an identification document, all the concerned parties will be at the centres to enable you get it,” he said.

The CS said the most abused sector especially during this political season was the boda boda sector, adding that the country was in an unprecedented era of cheap populism.

“We had good recommendations to reform the sector. When we started implementing them, some leaders politicised it and said the government was targeting ‘wanyonge’. The cheap populism by politicians has created a culture of impunity,” he said.

The regional, county and sub-county Commissioners have also been directed  to hold monthly meetings with the local bodaboda leaders to discuss emerging issues and challenges.

“Encourage riders to volunteer information about rogue riders to enable us clean the sector,” the CS said. Matiang’i was speaking in Nairobi during a meeting with officials from the government and the Boda Boda Association of Kenya .