Boda-boda and tuk-tuk operators will be forced to have third-party insurance cover for protecting their passengers and other road users in case of an accident.

This comes as Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) proposes changes to the 1999 motor vehicle rules that will prohibit boda bodas and tuk-tuks from operating without insurance covers for their passengers.

Presently, motorcycles and three-wheeled vehicles used for non-public services such as domestic, leisure and social purposes are required to have third-party insurance covers.

IRA says the number of accidents that have left many injured and unable to settle enormous hospital bills has occasioned the inclusion of fare-paying motorcycles.

Insurance companies will make a kill as a result of the new directive being implemented because they are meant to benefit by providing cover for about 1.5 million motorcycles operating within the country.

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However, IRA Chief Executive Godfrey Kiptum said boda boda and tuk-tuk operators are not obliged by law to take up insurance policies.

“There is no legal requirement for the operators to take up insurance policies as boda bodas and tuk-tuks are not indicated in the category of motor vehicles used by fare-paying passengers,” said Kiptum.

The Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI) has supported the proposal, saying they will boost the confidence of Kenyans who use boda bodas and tuk-tuks as modes of transport.

AKI Chief Executive Tom Gachupin said they needed to protect Kenyans and compensations needed to be made in case of accidents.

“We need to protect Kenyans. When you jump onto that boda boda, you need to be sure that the least it has is third-party cover. Boda bodas knock people dead and injure others. These people need to be compensated,” said Gachupin.

According to statistics, the annual registration of the boda bodas had increased from 123,539 in 2016 to 252,601 over the past five years.