By Billy Mijungu

Motorcycles have become an integral part of Kenya’s transport system. They are fast, accessible, and affordable, providing a livelihood for thousands of young men and women across the country. From remote rural villages where public transport is scarce to busy urban centres where traffic jams choke the roads, the boda boda industry has stepped in to fill the gap. Yet with this rapid expansion has come chaos, lawlessness, and grave danger. The time has come for Kenya to rethink how it regulates motorcycles and the people who ride them. One of the most urgent reforms is to outlaw the selling of a motorbike to an unlicensed individual. Likewise, it should be illegal to buy a motorbike without first presenting a valid riding licence. Just as no one is allowed to buy a gun without the legal documents that govern ownership, motorcycles too must be subjected to strict legal frameworks. Anything less is courting disaster.

The boda boda sector has become ungovernable by the day. With more than a million motorcycles criss-crossing our towns, highways, and villages, the lack of order is now a national concern. Many accidents on Kenyan roads today involve motorcycles. Riders weave dangerously through traffic, ride on pavements, invade pedestrian walkways, and ignore traffic rules. The result has been injuries, deaths, and a strain on the health system. It is not just about accidents. The sector has also attracted criminal elements. Some motorcycles are used for quick getaways in robberies. Others are unregistered, making them difficult to trace. Lack of regulation has turned what should be a solution into a problem. The freedom to purchase and ride without a licence has created a cycle of impunity.

The law is clear on driving motor vehicles, but motorcycles have been treated with leniency. Many young men buy bikes as soon as they can afford them, without ever stepping into a training school. The culture of jumping onto the road without knowledge of traffic rules is the beginning of many tragedies. The Government must tighten the laws governing motorcycles. Outlawing the sale of motorcycles to individuals who do not have a valid riding licence is a necessary starting point. Dealers and importers should be compelled to check and record licence details before transferring ownership. This single step will ensure that only those who have undergone training and certification can own and ride motorcycles.

Equally, reckless behaviours must be criminalised. Riding against traffic flow, making irregular incursions into lanes, using pedestrian pathways, and riding on pavements must attract heavy penalties. Riders must learn that roads are governed by rules, not by individual convenience. Personal safety must also be prioritised. Every rider and passenger should wear a helmet at all times, not as an option but as a rule enforced by police and county authorities. On highways, motorcycles should stick to the extreme left and never compete with heavy vehicles in the middle lanes. Discipline on the road must be restored if the sector is to survive.

Beyond safety, the boda boda sector must be drawn into the formal economy. Riders make money daily but most do not pay taxes. This is a loophole in revenue collection that must be closed. Just like matatus are regulated and taxed, motorcycles too should be brought into the fold. The answer lies in organisation. Structured boda boda associations can operate like savings and credit cooperatives. They can receive credit from banks, extend loans to members, and pool resources for investments. Such organisation can transform riders from daily hustlers into shareholders of community enterprises. If properly regulated, this sector can become one of the largest contributors to Kenya’s economy.

The Government should encourage riders to register into associations that meet standards of accountability. With good leadership, these associations can negotiate better terms with lenders, provide insurance covers for members, and even invest in property, agriculture, or transport fleets. The sector should no longer be viewed only as a survival mechanism for the jobless but as a legitimate part of the economy. Many riders on the road today have never seen the inside of a driving school. Others went through training but have since picked up bad habits. For this reason, retraining should be mandatory. Every few years, riders should return to school for refresher courses, just as professionals in other fields do. This will help keep them updated on traffic laws, personal safety practices, and the responsibility that comes with sharing the road with other users.

Riders must learn to see themselves not only as drivers of machines but as custodians of human life. A single mistake on a motorcycle can cost two lives in seconds. Furthermore, education can go beyond road safety. Riders can be trained in financial literacy, customer care, and entrepreneurship. A disciplined and knowledgeable rider is an asset to the economy and to the community. Kenya stands at a crossroads in the management of its motorcycle sector. If left unchecked, boda bodas will continue to be a source of chaos, insecurity, and accidents. But if regulated and reformed, they can be harnessed as powerful engines of economic growth and social mobility. Outlawing the sale of motorcycles to unlicensed riders and preventing unlicensed individuals from purchasing them is the first step towards order. Enforcing road discipline, introducing taxation, organising riders into associations, and retraining them regularly will complete the transformation.

The boda boda sector is not going away. It is deeply rooted in Kenyan society. What must change is how it is managed. With bold laws and determined enforcement, motorcycles can shift from being a national menace to becoming a national asset.

By Reporter

Sacked health workers at the County Government of Siaya on Monday suffered double pain after their peaceful demonstration was scuttled by goons who unleashed violence on them at the county headquarters.

The demonstrators sustained injuries, with some of them covered in blood after goons descended on them at the county headquarters.

The sacked employees had intended to present a petition to Governor James Orengo but faced the brunt of the goons who unleashed terror on them.

“We had a peaceful demonstration to present our petition to the governor but infuriatingly some people unleashed goons on us. We demand to be heard and not to be beaten,” they said.

The county recently sacked 382 health workers over what was termed as fraudulent employment after an exposé by the EACC.
Orengo calmed the situation and told the demonstrators that his government was committed to ending corruption in the county.

While addressing the group—many of whom had been working in the health department—he said:
“The law is clear. Public jobs cannot be bought or traded in backrooms. Those who colluded to exploit desperate job seekers will be exposed,” Orengo said, adding that beginning Friday, he would personally review each of the contested letters.

Earlier, Orengo had declared that he would not interfere with the ongoing inquiry on the sacked health workers by the County Public Service Board.

Orengo said he had received petitions from a number of persons expressing concerns for purportedly having been unfairly dismissed by the County Government of Siaya from service in the Health Department. He said a similar petition had also been presented to the County Assembly of Siaya.

“At this stage I do not wish to compromise or interfere with the enquiry or interventions that will be undertaken by the County Assembly or any other investigations that may be launched by the agencies of Kenya’s criminal justice system. I urge them all to carry out thorough investigations and expose this scam for what it is. It would also be necessary to conduct lifestyle audits on some of the individuals who could be persons of interest. Those found responsible and liable must be punished for this callous and criminal enterprise,” he said.

He said his government would cooperate fully and abide, in accordance with the law, with each and all recommendations and resolutions made by the County Assembly and other relevant state organs, including the enforcement of administrative action.
The governor said there was need to engage with the victims and address their plight in the context of the manner in which the issue arose.

“There are clear procedures for qualified persons to be appointed and deployed as part of the staff establishment. Jobs must be advertised. Applications must be made and interviews conducted. That is the only path for qualified persons to be appointed and become employees of the County Public Service,” he said.

Orengo said it was necessary to examine all the individual cases of the complainants to confirm whether indeed they got their appointment and deployment lawfully and regularly.

“The case is made worse when there are whispers that there was fraudulent activity. It is alleged that there were exchanges of money, which would completely taint and render any alleged appointment null and void,” he said.

He said the process initiated by the County Assembly of Siaya would give the petitioners an opportunity to establish the legality of the purported appointments.
“We urge the County Assembly to expedite the hearing and determination of the petition before them and note that the Assembly had directed that the Executive should not take any action until the conclusion of the proceedings before the Assembly. Noting the public outrage over this issue, we urge the Assembly to conclude this matter in a fortnight rather than a month,” he said.

Recently, 382 health workers were dismissed by the Siaya County Government over claims they were irregularly hired using forged documents.

The County Public Service Board said an audit carried out with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations revealed massive irregularities in the recruitment process.

Siaya County Public Service Board Chief Executive Officer, Wilfred Ouma Nyagudi, explained that the investigation uncovered glaring discrepancies.

“We noted several issues. Some of them were inconsistencies in the sequence of reference letters. Any letter we issue, such as deployments, must be signed by the chief of health. We had cases where somebody had a deployment letter dated earlier than their appointment,” Nyagudi said.

By Paul Njenga

As Kenya’s counties continue to face widening infrastructure gaps, growing development backlogs, and over-reliance on national transfers, the question arises: how can devolved units fund transformational projects sustainably?

In 2021, Laikipia County, under the leadership of then-Governor Ndiritu Muriithi, offered a bold answer by proposing and securing approval for a KSh 1.16 billion infrastructure bond, becoming the first subnational government in Kenya to seek development funding through domestic capital markets.

The goal was straightforward but visionary: to invest in “smart town” infrastructure — roads, drainage, street lighting, markets, and water for production — and unlock the county’s economic potential. More importantly, Laikipia’s initiative demonstrated that counties can, and should, tap innovative financing options to complement exchequer disbursements.

The bond was conceptualized and executed under the leadership of Governor Ndiritu Muriithi, a seasoned economist, former investment banker, and now Chairperson of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). His background in fiscal policy and his current national role reflect a consistent focus on public finance innovation and revenue mobilization — both critical for sustainable development.

Despite the challenges that followed, this bond should be seen not as a failure — but as a blueprint worth refining and replicating.

A Model of County-Led Financial Innovation

Laikipia’s infrastructure bond broke new ground by showing that subnational governments can engage capital markets responsibly and legally. The county obtained all requisite approvals: from the County Assembly, Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC), the National Treasury, and even Cabinet. The bond complied with the Public Finance Management Act and was backed by a structured, multi-year development pipeline with clear economic returns.

This marked a shift in county-level thinking — from waiting on delayed transfers to crafting self-driven, revenue-backed development solutions.

But even the best-designed financial models can collapse without political maturity and administrative continuity. That’s the real lesson from Laikipia’s experience.

The Danger of Disrupted Continuity

After the 2022 general elections, many of the smart town projects funded by the bond were scaled down, paused, or quietly shelved. Contractors were left unpaid, works halted, and investor confidence shaken — not due to mismanagement or financial constraints, but due to a change in administration.

Innovations like the Laikipia bond must be seen through to their logical conclusion, regardless of changes in leadership. When visionary projects are abandoned with every electoral cycle, counties lose more than momentum. They lose credibility, with citizens, investors, and future development partners.

To safeguard such progress, counties must institutionalize long-term projects through legislation, inclusion in County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs), and cross-party consensus. Vision should never be tied to one governor’s term.

A Playbook for Other Counties and other subnationals

Laikipia’s journey offers a valuable roadmap for other counties that wish to unlock market-based financing and achieve fiscal independence:

1. Start with bankable, impactful projects. Investors want to see infrastructure that stimulates local economies and can indirectly or directly support debt repayment.

2. Build cross-party and legal continuity. Embed major projects into legally binding fiscal frameworks and ensure incoming administrations respect them.

3. Ensure clean, audited, and transparent books of account.

No investor will support a county with chaotic finances. During Governor Muriithi’s tenure, Laikipia invested in robust financial management systems and compliance, earning it the credibility to issue a bond.

4. Strengthen Own Source Revenue (OSR).

Sustainable financing depends on a county’s ability to generate and manage its own revenue. Laikipia digitized revenue streams, broadened the tax base, and reduced leakages, reforms that were critical in building investor confidence and ensuring a predictable repayment path.

In Laikipia, this effort was supported by the institutionalization of the Laikipia Revenue Board, a semi-autonomous entity established through legislation to manage county revenue collection.

By removing direct political interference and professionalizing revenue administration, the board helped improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability, all essential for counties looking to access long-term capital.

Other counties would benefit from creating or strengthening similar revenue boards, with clear mandates and oversight mechanisms embedded in law.

5. Engage citizens and communicate clearly.

Public participation builds trust. Citizens must understand what the funds will do, how they’ll be repaid, and why such innovations matter.

Counties are not just administrative units they are corporate entities with legal obligations and reputational risk. To access private capital, they must demonstrate professionalism, fiscal discipline, and stability beyond politics.

Reviving the Spirit of Devolution

Kenya’s Constitution envisioned devolved units as engines of grassroots development with the capacity to plan, finance, and implement based on local priorities. But for this vision to succeed, counties must go beyond waiting for Nairobi’s disbursements.

The national government should support such innovation by providing guarantees, streamlining approvals, and offering technical assistance. But the bold thinking must start at the county level.

Laikipia, under Governor Ndiritu Muriithi, took that bold first step. That he now chairs the Kenya Revenue Authority is no coincidence it’s a testament to the value of smart, structured, and transparent fiscal leadership.

The Laikipia bond should not be remembered for its political turbulence, but for the precedent it set. It remains a milestone in Kenya’s fiscal devolution journey one that other counties must build on, not abandon.

Now is the time to pick up that baton and run with it.

The writer is former Chief Officer of Finance, Laikipia county and currently CEO of  KLDC

By Hope Barbra

In a shocking incident, a university don, Prof. Thomas Tonny Onyango Mboya, was on Tuesday morning brutally murdered in his Waware village, Suba North Sub-county, following a land dispute.

Prof. Mboya, who was an Associate Professor and Director of the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the Technical University of Kenya (TUK), was attacked while erecting beacons on the disputed parcel of land.

According to witnesses, the assailant, who had allegedly encroached and built on the contested property, became enraged after a court ruling directed him to demolish his structures. Instead of complying, he reportedly stormed the site armed with a panga, beheading Prof. Mboya before turning on his father.

Mboya’s father suffered deep panga cuts during the attack and is currently fighting for his life at a hospital in Homa Bay County. The suspect fled the scene after residents raised alarm, narrowly escaping a mob that pursued him.

Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo strongly condemned the incident, urging police to move swiftly and apprehend the suspect.
“The murder of Professor Thomas Mboya of Rusinga Island is unfortunate. Violence never sorts out issues. May the killer and any persons who may have aided or abetted in his death be brought to book,” she wrote on her Facebook page.

Prof. Mboya was widely respected in academic circles. Born in 1970, he completed his O-Level education (KCE) at Kokuro Secondary School in 1987 before joining Homa Bay High School for his A-Level studies in 1989. He later pursued a Bachelor of Education (Science) degree at Egerton University, graduating in 1993.

In 1994, he began his teaching career under the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). Three years later, he took study leave to pursue a Master of Science degree in Mathematics at the University of Nairobi, graduating in 1999.

Afterward, he returned to teaching before joining the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) in 2002 as a lecturer. In 2005, he proceeded to the United Kingdom, where he earned his PhD in Inverse and Ill-posed Problems from the University of Leeds in 2008.

Between 2009 and 2012, he resumed teaching at CUEA before moving to the Technical University of Kenya in March 2012 as a Senior Lecturer and Chair of the Department of Statistics and Computational Mathematics. From February 2013 to January 2016, he served as the Head of the Department of Industrial and Engineering Mathematics.

Until his untimely death, Prof. Mboya was serving as the Director of the School of Mathematics and Statistics at TUK, leaving behind a legacy of excellence in academia and research.

By Remmy Butia

The nation is mourning the loss of former Chesumei Member of Parliament, Elijah Kiptarbei Lagat, who passed away on Tuesday while receiving treatment at a hospital in Eldoret.

At the time of his death, Lagat was serving as a board member of the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse Authority (NACADA), a role in which he continued his long-standing commitment to public service.

Lagat’s political career began in 2007 when he was elected to Parliament as the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) representative for the then Emgwen Constituency. He later transitioned to the Jubilee Party and, following the creation of the new Chesumei Constituency, made history by becoming its inaugural Member of Parliament after winning the 2013 general election.

Before his foray into politics, Lagat was celebrated on the global stage as an elite athlete. He secured his place in sporting history by winning the prestigious 104th Boston Marathon in the year 2000, a victory that cemented his status as a Kenyan sporting legend.

Born on June 19, 1966, Lagat’s life was marked by significant achievements in both the athletic and political arenas. Tributes from colleagues, constituents, and the sporting community have begun pouring in, remembering him as a dedicated leader and a national hero.

Further details regarding his funeral arrangements are expected to be released by the family in the coming days.

BY OPCS PRESS SERVICE

Africa must work on building its global capacity and partnerships that will create opportunities for trade, investment, and domestic resource generation to spur economic growth.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has said the era of depending on foreign aid is gone, and African nations must become more self-sufficient.

Mudavadi noted that the evolving global geo-political, geo-economic, and geo-technological dynamics show a clear move away from aid dependency.

“It is upon us, individually and collectively as a continent, to take more seriously any opportunities of consolidating trade and other investment arrangements with our trade partners,” he said.

He urged African leaders to make “immediate, radical, and aggressive policy changes” to generate resources for critical programs or risk being left behind.

“This is critical for Kenya and critical for Africa, bearing in mind that we are seeing a lot of volatility in the trading arena. Africa requires predictable, reliable, and consistent trade arrangements with its partners,” noted Mudavadi.

Mudavadi was speaking when he graced the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China at the Chinese Embassy in Nairobi.

He noted that partners like China are important players in global affairs, China being the second-largest global economy.

He acknowledged the success stories from China and other developed nations to be an eye-opener for Kenya and Africa to leverage opportunities presented by these trade partners.

“Through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) arrangement, great strides have been made, spanning aspects of infrastructure, broad governance issues, and technological transfer between China and the African continent. This relationship has definitely yielded positive results,” said Mudavadi.

He added: “China is now Africa’s largest bilateral development partner, providing African countries with necessary resources for the development of priority sectors including infrastructure, agriculture, health, manufacturing, mining, energy, and housing, among others. Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) has increased significantly over the last two decades, supporting Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in these key sectors. This demonstrates the critical role of FOCAC in advancing the Africa-China partnership for Africa’s development.”

Mudavadi, also the Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary, revealed that owing to President William Ruto’s state visit to China earlier this year, Kenya is making strides in advancing 21 key bilateral agreements reached on that occasion.

He noted that Kenya is pursuing critical projects among them the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway from Naivasha to Kisumu and the Malaba border, and the dualling of the Rironi-Mau Summit to Malaba road, whose completion will open up and boost Kenya’s trade, making it a critical regional business and investment hub.

“Our target is to enhance the efficiency of trade between us and our neighbour Uganda and open up opportunities within the Great Lakes region and beyond,” he said.

“As of today, something important is going on in China. Kenya has a delegation which is in deep negotiation, so that within the framework arrangement of FOCAC, and the pronouncement about China offering Africa the Free Preferential Trade Agreement for products in Africa, Kenya is defending its portion of the arrangement with the Chinese government. We hope that in a few weeks’ time, we shall be able to report progress, indicating that we have struck a deal within the free preferential trade agreement framework,” revealed the Prime CS.

Mudavadi also noted that within the emerging global dynamics in different areas, the place for multilateralism is becoming even more important and should not be weakened or undermined.

He said that with China’s position on multilateralism and being a dependable partner and strong voice in advancing the principles of the Global South, Kenya stands ready to further deepen its ties and work with China in advancing and accelerating a “Shared Future” of strategic significance in promoting multilateralism and enhancing cooperation for the mutual benefit of the citizens of the two countries.

“A strong message that will continue to send the signal that the absence of multilateralism is dangerous for humanity is extremely essential at this point in time. We will not be able to deal with the conflicts that we see if we weaken and undermine multilateralism. The position taken to consolidate multilateralism is a shared position,” he emphasized.