Makau Mutua revives bid to ban boda boda sector
President William Ruto’s senior advisor on constitutional affairs, Makau Mutua, has reignited a contentious debate by calling for a total ban on boda bodas in Kenya’s major cities and towns.
In a strongly worded post on X on Thursday, July 17, 2025, Mutua described the motorcycle taxi sector as a “dangerous cartel” and a threat to national security.
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His renewed remarks have triggered widespread backlash, especially from the Boda Boda Safety Association of Kenya (BAK), as the country attempts to strike a balance between safety, livelihoods, and urban order.
Mutua’s post read, “The dangerous Boda Boda cartel, known as @BodaAssnofKenya, has FLATLY rejected the proposed Public Transport (Motorcycle Regulation) Bill. They want to continue their reign of chaos, death, and mayhem on our roads. The only solution is to BAN them! They are a threat to national security, an ostensible militia. Regulation can’t—WON’T—work.”
Earlier the same day, he had doubled down, saying, “I am convinced that all boda boda should be banned from the streets of all Kenya’s major cities and towns.” He faulted the industry for contributing to what he called “chaos, illegality, terrible aesthetics, and indiscipline on our roads.”
Debate resurfaces, Parliament
Mutua’s remarks come as Parliament prepares for the second reading of the Public Transport (Motorcycle Regulation) Bill, sponsored by Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale. The bill proposes far-reaching reforms, including restricting riders to one adult passenger, banning loads above 50 kg, and requiring helmets, reflective jackets, and formal training in traffic safety and emergency response.
Despite Khalwale’s bid to withdraw the bill on July 22 following public outcry, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula ruled that the matter would proceed as resolved by the House.
The Kenya Bureau of Standards and other safety advocates support the bill, citing increased fatalities and indiscipline linked to unregulated operations.
Industry pushes back
The BAK, which represents riders nationwide, has strongly opposed Mutua’s remarks and the proposed legislation. Its chairperson, Kevin Mubadi, termed Mutua’s stance “a direct threat to jobs and livelihoods” and accused him of ignoring the sector’s role in the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
According to a 2021 World Bank report, the sector supports over one million Kenyans, particularly youth, offering vital transport options in areas underserved by traditional means. However, data from the National Crime Research Centre in 2022 ties the sector to over 12,000 injuries and 2,000 deaths annually—numbers that fuel the ongoing calls for reform.
With public hearings ahead and strong opinions on both sides, the fate of the bill—and the future of boda bodas in Kenya’s cities—remains uncertain.
