24 December 2011
editorial
One of the grim statistics that the nation has confronted at Christmas time over the last five years is that the rate of deaths from accidents has been steadily on the rise.
There is almost certainly a correlation between this trend and the boom in the motorcycle transport sector.
Boda Bodas have become a major source of transport since the minister for Finance, in 2006, scrapped duty on imported motorbikes.
They have played a positive role in fuelling the rural economy in particular. Farmers now have a faster and reasonably affordable means of delivering goods to the market while traders can now source wares using the boda boda.
This type of transportation also opens up relatively inaccessible areas, doubling as ambulances in some areas. This is not to mention the boda boda place as a source of employment for many youths.
The problems that accompany the sector have been just as daunting. There was a failure of planning in the wake of the budget directive.
The safety standards of the bikes, training levels of the drivers, and protection measures for passengers are notable for their observance in breach.
It is not too late to come up with a comprehensive regulatory framework for this growth industry.
AllAfrica – All the Time