Editor's Review

Treasury CS Ukur Yatani has said that boda boda riders will be required to take insurance covers for their passengers.

Treasury CS Ukur Yatani has proposed to amend the Insurance Regulation Act to require boda boda operators to get insurance covers for their passengers.

While presenting the 2022/23 budget in Parliament on Thursday, Yatani said boda boda operators had been engaged in commercial fare paying passengers business.

However, the CS noted that unfortunately, the number of accidents involving motorcycles had been on a steady rise.

He said that the owners of the motorcycles had no insurance covers to cater for any treatment in case of injuries or compensation in case of death.

“In this respect, I propose to amend the Insurance Regulation Act to require motorcycles and three-wheelers used by fare-paying passengers to take insurance for their passengers,” CS Yatani stated.

{A section of boda boda riders. Image: Courtesy}

According to a recent study, the boda boda sector provides direct jobs to over 1 million riders who take home Sh1 billion daily.

Meanwhile, the budget has proposed the allocation of KSh2.1B for youth empowerment under 'Kazi Mtaani' Programme.

While reading the budget in parliament, Yatani said that Kenyans were extensively consulted during the preparation of the budget.

He maintained that among key issues raised by Kenyans were unemployment, high cost of living, and the public debt burden.