Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i has denied claims that the government intends to raise taxes for boda boda operators.
Matiang’i speaking during a forum of boda boda officials drawn from all the 47 counties on Wednesday, said the motive to create a digital register of all operators is intended to restore sanity to the sub-sector and get rid of rogue riders who are hiding among others.
While calling upon the riders to collaborate in the ongoing reforms, the CS defended the move saying it was long overdue and was centered on making the sector safer and attractive to more investors.
“Reforming the boda boda sector is a critical public policy decision that government has already made. The people who are in the sector are genuine Kenyans who are raising their families from this business,” he said.
“We don’t want them to be interfered with by criminals. We want to clean the sector so that it continues to thrive and succeed.”
Matiang’i told off politicians opposed to restoring sanity to the sub-sector as he accused them of politicising the matter.
In acknowledgment to the same, he urged operators not to fall prey to political incitement and exploitation as the General Elections close in.
“After the COVID-19 pandemic, for us in Kenya, we are now dealing with the pandemic of lies and foul language by our politicians. They just wake up in the morning to drive around the country and lie,” the CS stated.
“They actually say things they don’t know; because they don’t engage with public policy. Let us be responsible and reform the sector.”
Besides self-regulation, CS Matiang’i urged boda boda riders to be ambassadors of peace during this period and advance political tolerance, which he termed a key pillar in Kenya’s democracy.
Matiang’i directed all Regional Commissioners (RCs) and County Commissioners (CCs) across the country to scale up engagement with boda boda leaders and communicate the value of the reforms to riders and operators.
The CS further directed the commissioners to follow up on boda boda leaders to ensure they attend security briefings in their areas in order for their concerns to be factored in in the ongoing reforms.