The National Assembly has scrapped the contentious Public Transport (Motorcycle Regulation) Bill proposed by the Senate last December, coming in as a reprieve for boda boda operators.

The bill, which has been at the centre of conversations by politicians from across the political divide, sought to bring some reforms which, according to the majority of the boda boda operators, were not in their favour and presented financial challenges.

The bill, proposed by Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, would have seen the struggling youths take home reduced income as a result of fewer rides and limited capacity per trip.

It has also subjected them to be paying for certificate fees from county executives, which in this regard would have been mandated in regulating their operations in their respective locations. 

In a submission by the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure at parliament, it was noted that the bill failed to meet the provisions of Standing Order 127(5) and that the senator had also withdrawn the bill during the previous stages. 

“This House resolves to discharge the Public Transport (Motorcycle Regulation) Bill (Senate Bill No. 38 of 2023) from Second Reading,” the ruling read in part.  Boda Boda Association of Kenya (BAK), during the introduction of the bill, through their X account, called out the proposal, noting that it lacked public participation to ascertain the actual issues that affect the operators.

Tabled before the Senate on December 5, last year, to tame the “chaotic” industry, the bill (the public transport motorcycle regulation) in its full dimension wanted to have two-wheel motorcycle riders restricted to carrying only one adult passenger at a time.

It also required them to provide full gear for the clients, have a certificate from the county executive, ensure that loads weighing more than 50 kgs are not carried at the same time with an adult and not park at undesignated areas, among others.

These were part of the positive reforms that, however, served as a setback to the operators who specifically preferred carrying more than one person in a single trip and loads weighing more than the required Kgs. 

This, according to the house, was in a bid to restore sanity in the industry that also has the potential of limiting road accidents while at the same time boost the growth of the country through proper regulations.  This bill would have also fronted more expenses by the Mama Mboga, due to utilising more than two motorcycles while transporting her goods from the main markets.