Makau Mutua calls for ban on boda bodas in major cities
Boda bodas—motorcycle taxis—remain one of Kenya’s most widely used modes of transport, especially in cities such as Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Eldoret.
Presidential advisor on constitutional affairs Makau Mutua. Photo/The Star Kenya.
By Janet Philip
Presidential Advisor on Constitutional Affairs Makau Mutua has called for a ban on boda bodas in all of Kenya’s major cities and towns, citing concerns over road safety, public order, and urban aesthetics.
In a statement released Thursday, Mutua described boda bodas as a source of urban disorder and argued that modern cities should not accommodate what he termed as “chaos, illegality, terrible aesthetics, and indiscipline.”
“I am convinced that all boda boda should be banned from the streets of all Kenya’s major cities and towns,” Mutua said. “No modern city should tolerate such conditions. Absolutely unacceptable.”
Boda bodas—motorcycle taxis—remain one of Kenya’s most widely used modes of transport, especially in cities such as Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Eldoret. They offer low-cost, fast transportation, often serving routes that are inaccessible to other public transit options.
However, they have also been associated with rising cases of traffic accidents, lawlessness, and urban congestion, prompting repeated calls for better regulation.
Mutua’s remarks reignited national debate, with some Kenyans backing his position while others criticized it as dismissive of a sector that provides vital services and employment.
Many viewed the suggestion as impractical, especially given the high youth unemployment rate and lack of reliable public transit alternatives.
It is not the first time a public figure has called for reforms in the sector. Central Organisation of Trade Unions Secretary General Francis Atwoli made similar comments during Labour Day celebrations in May. Atwoli urged for regulation of boda bodas in Nairobi, expressing concerns about how their presence, along with matatus and hawkers, affects the city’s global image.
“This city must reflect other cities of the world like Accra, Abuja, Abidjan, and Kigali,” Atwoli said. “We cannot remain in a filthy city, filled with hawkers, riders, and matatus.”
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