By:Robert Mutasi
Hundreds of boda boda operators from across Tana River County convened in Hola town for a major road safety sensitization forum, where they were urged to strictly comply with traffic laws to save lives.
The meeting, which drew riders from Hola and surrounding sub-counties, was organized by the traffic department and local boda boda leadership amid growing concerns over road crashes involving motorcycles in the coastal region.
The riders were sensitized on the importance of wearing helmets, reflector jackets, carrying only one passenger, having valid driving licenses, insurance, and respecting all traffic regulations.
Tana River Traffic Commander Kadenge Kazungu, who addressed the riders, said the county has recorded an increase in boda boda related accidents, most of them caused by human error and failure to follow basic safety rules.
“We have noticed many riders operate without helmets, without licenses, and they overload. This is very dangerous. We are here to educate you before we enforce it. Our work is to ensure you are safe and your customers are safe,” Kazungu said.
He added that police will enhance patrols and impound motorcycles whose owners continue to flout the law, but maintained that the approach will be collaborative. The commander noted that many motorcycles parked outside Hola Police Station, as seen in the video, had been impounded in previous operations.
Youth leader Guracha Abdalla, speaking at the same forum, said the boda boda industry remains the biggest employer of young people in Tana River, yet it continues to claim the lives of many youths due to carelessness on the roads.
Abdalla called on county and national governments to make it easier for young riders to comply by bringing services closer to them, including subsidized training, affordable helmets and mobile licensing clinics.
“These young men are hustling to feed their families. We should support them to do it legally and safely. Help them get licenses, help them get training, and they will respect the law,” Abdalla said.
Stephen Dhadho, the Chairperson of Boda Boda operators in Tana River, admitted that compliance levels have been low but blamed it partly on lack of information and economic hardship. He pledged to work with authorities to streamline the sector.
Dhadho said his leadership will embark on a fresh registration exercise for all riders in Hola town, ensure they are organized in Saccos, and sensitize them on discipline and customer handling.
“We as leaders have agreed to work with the police. We want every rider in the Tana River to have a helmet, a reflector, and a license. Those who refuse to follow, we will not protect them,” Dhadho said.
The riders who attended the meeting, many donning bright yellow-green reflector vests branded ‘Watu Credit’ and ‘NTSA Approved’, were seen keenly following proceedings inside a packed hall in Hola, with one motorcycle displayed at the front as a demonstration tool.
Authorities hope such forums will reduce fatalities and foster better relations between traffic officers and boda boda operators, who have often complained of harassment.
The Hola meeting is part of a nationwide push by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and the National Police Service to instill a culture of road safety among boda boda operators, who account for a large percentage of road accident victims in Kenya.
