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{
    "id": 1233390,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1233390/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 161,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kilifi South, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Ken Chonga",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me an opportunity to speak on this amendment Bill. History will tell us how important the bodaboda sector is. If you can recall some 30 years ago, it used to take the whole day for a public service vehicle to be available for commuting. Life then was very horrible. At times if you missed the bus in the morning, you would have to wait until the following day to undertake your journey. Things have changed for both better and worse. As I was listening keenly to the Mover of this amendment Bill, it took me to where I come from and looked at the situation as it is. Indeed, there are reasons why this sector needs to be moderated irrespective of all the good it has brought to the country. Last year, we heard our former President come out openly to find out how much income the bodaboda sector was generating to the country and its contribution to the GDP. That was good but at the same time, very many things have gone out of place. In this industry one can train and ride the same day, not cognisant of the consequences or any ills that may happen from riding a motorbike without knowledge of required regulations. As the Mover said, in the East African Region, we know this is a reliable mode of transport but in some countries, things are done differently. I have watched in dismay, a bodaboda carrying four people when it is meant to carry one person. Honestly, this is a disaster in the making, implying something somewhere has not been done right. For instance, in Rwanda a bodaboda will never and can never carry more than one person. A bodaboda rider must have a helmet, same to the passenger. A bodaboda is not excluded from observing traffic laws. When lights are red, all vehicles stop. What happens in Kenya? You find when lights are red, the rider still moves on. Then they meet an oncoming vehicle and an accident happens. What kind of regulations are there to moderate this? Day in, day out, the number of bodaboda riders is increasing yet, the modalities of putting this sector in control are not there. I am not saying the bodaboda sector should be shut down but we need to come up with proper mechanisms because if it is possible in Rwanda, I am very sure it is equally possible in Kenya. Most of the bodaboda riders are young people. This is the generation we expect to move the economy to a second level tomorrow. If you go to Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, you will find a special separate ward for bodaboda riders and passengers who get accidents. In Kilifi and Kenyatta National Hospital the story is the same. For how long will we sit and watch our young men and women die? The concern comes here and I think this Bill is very timely to save future generations. We need to put proper structures and if possible have demarcated areas for bodaboda riders to ride. This will help us avoid loss of lives, accidents and injuries to others who are not party to these accidents. I stand to support this Bill."
}