Digital ID System Launched for Nairobi Motorcyclists

NTSA, in partnership with the National Police Service and multiagency teams, is set to introduce a pilot program issuing unique identification numbers to motorcycle riders nationwide, starting with Nairobi. This effort seeks to bring regulation to the sector, which has drawn criticism from both motorists and the public for allegedly violating traffic laws and safety standards. Boniface Otieno, the Nairobi liaison for the National Police Service Traffic Department, explained that the pilot will register all motorcyclists with an identification number distinct from their vehicle’s license plate, enabling authorities to monitor riders and their activities. ‘We are currently engaged in multiagency discussions led by NTSA. In Nairobi, we will conduct a pilot registering selected motorcyclists and providing them with an identification separate from their license plate, which is already digitized,’ Otieno stated in an NTV interview. The government indicates this initiative addresses increasing concerns that some riders take advantage of the absence of identification to operate beyond their designated areas and commit traffic violations or other misconduct. This measure also responds to concerns raised by the Matatu Owners Association (MOA) and the Motorists Association, which have threatened to suspend all matatu services in Nairobi on Monday in protest of matatus being set on fire by unruly riders. Meanwhile, Otieno cautioned that the new system does not mean police will reduce traffic enforcement in the sector. He emphasized that the government will increase crackdowns on riders who pass on the wrong side of the road or use pedestrian walkways, citing potential safety hazards to the public. ‘In case of a road incident, authorities will investigate and ensure compensation is provided, instead of permitting individuals to administer their own justice,’ Otieno said. This initiative forms part of a broader effort to maintain integrity in the traffic enforcement system, with the EACC assisting in measures to combat bribery among officers, as noted by the Traffic chief. Otieno commended the EACC’s efforts and confirmed that Inspector General Douglas Kanja has approved an internal operations unit to take decisive action against officers caught soliciting or accepting bribes. The Nairobi pilot phase is anticipated to guide a nationwide implementation, as NTSA and its partners work to bring organization to the motorcycle transport sector, which serves a vital function in Kenya’s economy. The Boda Boda Safety Association of Kenya (BAK) indicates the sector.