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{
    "id": 485790,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/485790/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 368,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Ochieng",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2955,
        "legal_name": "David Ouma Ochieng'",
        "slug": "david-ouma-ochieng"
    },
    "content": "So, do not hoot at them when you see them. Hooting at them makes them try to manoeuver and avoid using mainstream roads and follow the traffic laws. I have talked about police harassment. Safety of passengers in that means of transport is very key. You have heard in this House before and read in the papers that there are hospitals in this country that have dedicated wards for people who are injured while using that means of transport. The idea here is: Can we - through the policy that you are going to create - make it easy for the operators of that means of transport acquire the necessary safety gadgets as they go about their businesses? The number of deaths, the number of injuries and people being maimed through that means of transport is alarming. I think we cannot cover our heads in the sand and say: “This is for the young people. Let them go about their business as the police take money from them and people lose their lives every day with this means of transport.” So, the policy will then address the safety aspects of this. Most people who own those motorcycles are not the riders. Most of them are teachers, some of whom are in the villages. They are people of means. It would be good to work on a policy that will help those who ride motorcycles and who would wish to own their own motorcycles. Get them means of accessing finance. Get them means of getting the motorcycles and paying for them in installments. That way, we will ensure that the riders are careful in the sense that they own them. But because they do not own them, they do not care. They do not have responsibility. If you enable them to have means of owning then, they will be fine. Theft of motorcycles in the last one year alone is really bothering the owners and endangering the lives of those who lease them. They do not steal the private ones. They steal those that are being used for business. The people are being waylaid and motorcycles stolen. This is a challenge that is facing this Bill. As I end, I just want to propose what needs to be done. One, like I said, the Government of Kenya is developing the necessary physical infrastructure to enable the operations of boda bodas to be something meaningful, easy and without hustles. On the implementation of the laws and regulations, let this not be a cash cow. Let the police not think that they are going to use the motorcycle industry as a cash cow. Let the riders also know that they must follow the regulations for them to operate in this country. So, that enforcement of the law should be done to ensure that the operations are safe. Can we, as a Parliament, get a way of getting cheap insurance cover for that means of transport, either as the business or as passengers? Is it possible to get a cheaper cover? Currently, we are using the cover that is used by motor vehicles and the cost is a bit prohibitive. Can 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."
}