Mogo,Boda Boda Safety Association train 800 riders on road safety in Kisumu

Mogo Kenya, a vehicle and smartphone financie in partnership with the Boda Boda Safety Association of Kenya (BAK), has trained over 800 boda boda riders in Kisumu County on road safety as part of efforts to reduce deaths and injuries caused by road traffic accidents.

The training forum which brought together riders from across Kisumu County, focused on promoting safer riding practices, adherence to traffic rules and greater awareness of insurance options that can help riders manage medical costs in the event of accidents.

Speaking during the training, Rebbeca Ngige, the Public relations Manager, Mogo, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to supporting the wellbeing and sustainability of the boda boda sector.“Boda boda riders play a critical role in Kenya’s economy and in connecting communities to opportunities.

The session also addressed broader issues affecting the sector, including economic empowerment through SACCOs, pension savings awareness, social protection and behavioural change.

According to statistics from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), boda boda riders and their passengers, together with pedestrians, account for over 65 per cent of the average 4,000 road fatalities recorded annually in Kenya.

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“At Mogo, we have supported many riders to access motorcycles and smartphones through affordable financing so they can participate in the digital economy and improve their livelihoods. However, road accidents often wipe out these gains due to the high cost of treatment and lost income. That is why initiatives such as this training are important to equip riders with knowledge on safe riding and financial protection,” she said.

She added that improving road safety among riders not only protects lives but also helps ensure that operators can continue earning and supporting their families.

BAK National Chairman Kevin Mubadi said the association is working with partners to strengthen safety awareness among riders and reduce the number of accidents involving boda boda operators.

“Many of our members depend entirely on this sector for their livelihoods, yet road crashes continue to claim lives and cause serious injuries. Through partnerships such as this one with Mogo Kenya, we are educating riders on the importance of observing traffic rules, riding responsibly and planning for their financial future,” he said.

In some counties fatalities go unreported, with estimates suggesting the actual number could be three to four times higher, meaning road traffic deaths may reach 12,000 or more each year, alongside thousands of injuries.

Road crashes also have a significant economic impact, costing Kenya an estimated 5 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), equivalent to over Ksh450 billion annually. Kisumu is among the counties with the highest number of traffic fatalities in the country, alongside Nairobi, Kiambu, Nakuru, Machakos, Kakamega, Makueni and Kericho.

NTSA data shows that Kisumu accounts for about 3 per cent of all fatal road crashes in Kenya, underlining the need for targeted road safety interventions.

The initiative aligns with Kenya’s National Road Safety Action Plan 2024–2028, which prioritises training road users, including boda boda riders, as a key strategy to reduce road deaths and serious injuries by 50 per cent over the next four years, in line with the UN Second Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030.The boda boda sector remains a key pillar of Kenya’s economy, generating an estimated KES 660 billion annually and contributing about 4.4 per cent of the country’s GDP.

The industry directly employs over 2.5 million people, providing vital income for families and communities across the country.

By Fredrick Odiero

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