Inchcape Kenya, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and Postbank on Sunday launched a training on road safety and financial wellness for boda boda riders.
More than 200 boda boda riders took part in the drive led by Bodaboda Safety Association of Kenya (BAK) to raise awareness on laws governing motorcyclists to tame road accidents.
The road safety campaign comes in the wake of an increase in the number of road accidents liked to motorcyclists.
The 2022 Economic Survey Report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) showed registered motor and auto cycles rose from 246,705 units in 2020 to 285,203 units in 2021.
Accordingly, the number of casualties in accidents involving boda boda or motorcycle taxis went up by 13.6 per cent from a total of 3,818 in 2020 to 4,336 in the year 2021.
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Furthermore, the number of deaths of pillion passenger in the reported road accidents also increased by 16.5 per cent to 2,716 in 2021 from 2,332 in 2020.
Speaking at the forum, Inchcape Kenya Marketing Manager Anne Wanyeki said the firm seeks to enhance road safety among riders as part of its responsible business program.
“As we grow the BMW Motorrad product range in the Kenyan market, it is not lost on us that motorbikes have for a long time now highly contributed to the spike in road accidents. As a key player in the automobiles industry, we are committed to playing a part in limiting motorcycle accidents through upskilling and sensitizing riders across the country on road safety,” said Wanyeki.
Bodaboda Safety Association of Kenya National Chairman Kevin Mubadi welcomed the initiative saying it will play a critical role in instilling road discipline among motorcyclists.
“The bodaboda safety association is delighted to work with Inchcape Kenya and NTSA to bring more riders into the regulatory fold so as to restore order and sanity in this subsector. We are one of Kenya’s biggest subsectors and my intention is to grow our industry further through forging mutually beneficial partnerships with both the government and relevant players in the private sector,” Mubadi said.
Before the safety training, Inchcape partnered with Nairobi County Government for a clean-up exercise around Westlands CBD area as part of its engagement with bodaboda riders.
Postbank Westlands branch manager Hilda Maina added that the bank was open to working with BAK to enhance the financial standing of bodaboda riders across the country.
She said: “Postbank is the only savings bank in the country and as such our core mandate is to mobilize savings through instilling a savings culture among Kenyans. We are cognizant that the bodaboda industry is one of the biggest in the country and we are ready to cater to this industry with our savings products, some which require as little as 50 shillings to activate.”
Inchcape Kenya said it will in the coming months expand the sensitization across Kenya.
