Governor Ann Kananu has announced biometric plates with outstanding colour codes for all Nairobi Boda Boda riders.
This directive follows a meeting between City Hall and the Boda Boda association on Thursday, March 17, 2022, where they agreed on a raft of new regulations aimed at streamlining this sector which has been involved in crime, accidents and indiscipline.
The Governor said they have agreed that Boda Boda operators will have their motorcycles fitted with the digital numbers.
She added that each of the 17 sub-Counties in Nairobi will have a different colour code for easy identification and when the special plates are scanned, they will reveal the name, ID number and phone number for each rider.
“We have agreed to work together and with the leaders agreeing to organise their members by ensuring they are all registered across the 17 sub-Counties in Nairobi. Each will be given a county registration card and sticker with a personal identification number,” she said.
The Boda Boda association was given one week by the governor to come up with a committee that will be charged with implementing what they had discussed and agreed upon starting of the registration.
They also agreed to benchmark with countries like Rwanda which are doing better in this sector.
According to Governor Kananu, the digital plates will enable to distinguish between real motorcyclists and those pretending to be riders but are criminals.
“This will help us identify the real Boda Boda riders and the rogues who have infiltrated the industry. There are people who pose as Boda Boda riders yet they are criminals. However, they have assured us that they will identify such elements and have them arrested,” she said.
Thika and Ruiru in Kiambu County and Vihiga County have also implemented the new development.
The digital plates will also have anti-counterfeit features such as watermarks, holograms and laser markers.
This will make work easy for police officers as they will be able to trace information on the owners of the motorcycles, their operation areas and their ability to lessen crimes associated with the riders.
Nevertheless, the crackdown issued by President Uhuru Kenyatta last week on rogue Boda riders is still on as per the governor.
“I have given executive order for petty offenders with documents to have their motorcycles released. However, no Boda Bodas will get into the city centre until we have streamlined the sector.”
