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{
    "id": 1526516,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1526516/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 565,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ruaraka, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. TJ Kajwang’",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Hon. Temporary Speaker, I have the instructions of the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure to hold his brief. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move the following Motion: THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure on its consideration of Public Petition No.14 of 2024 regarding Legal Recognition and Protection of E-Hailing Motorcycle Riders and Delivery Personnel, laid on the Table of the House on Thursday, 20th February 2025. As we are aware, Article 119 of the Constitution talks about public petitions and the right of every Kenyan to walk to the gates of the Assembly and lay a petition. One can simply walk to the Speaker and say in his or her own words, and the Speaker would then draft the sentiments into a petition, and such petitions would be reported to this House. This is what happened when one day in mid-morning, some young people were minded to come and make a petition through the gates of the National Assembly. The Speaker gave them an opportunity, listened to them and formulated, out of their distress, certain cogent issues which could form this Petition. I just want to underline the fact that this is a very progressive development that allows members of the public to participate in law-making. Who are these E-hailing motorcycle riders and delivery personnel? In your house, Hon. Temporary Speaker, at some point at 2.00 a.m., you may have felt sick and you needed painkillers. So, you just looked for a bolt or a Yego and asked for house delivery. Those of us mentoring young people in our homes know that they do not cook. They simply hail services and before you know it, somebody is at your doorstep to deliver food. These are the people that we are thinking about. They are on bicycles, motorcycles, or three-wheelers. These people are very progressive. It is a new concept in this economy that has given the residents more relief in getting services on the last mile. I just want to underpin this economic sector. If you look at Page 51 that is towards the end of the Report, we summoned the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to the Committee. We asked them how much the National Treasury or KRA receive by way of revenue. You will be shocked that this combination amounts to Ksh16 billion annually. It is a crucial part of the sector even though it is not perceptible out there on the streets. It must be regulated and promoted. There must be deliberate efforts to encourage it because the revenue is handsome and very substantial. The issues they were complaining about include unfair classifications of drivers and riders. They are classified as independent contractors while, in their view, they should not be classified as independent contractors. There is a regulation in the Act called the Transport Network Companies. They play in that space and control significant amount of the work of the drivers and riders, effectively treating them as employees, without offering employee protections. They apply oppressive pricing formulae and unfair and unprofitable pricing mechanisms. The riders also claimed that they often face sudden deactivation from platforms without a fair warning and justification. The person who takes a ride on Yego to your house receives a certain amount of money as commission. Sometimes, big companies like Uber and Bolt decide to have a promotion. When I sat on this, I learnt very new English and things like “promo”, a short form of “promotions”. They just promote or advertise their services. They reduce the amount chargeable to these riders when they do that. When they reduce prices, the problem is that they also reduce receivable commission to the young person or the poor rider. It is in that context the riders and drivers made a request through a petition, that the National Assembly, through the Committee, enacts or amends relevant legislation to formally recognise digital riders as a core subsector of the transport The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}