New taxes and mandatory rules for small public transport in Kenya.
This is required by the new 2019 budget of the Kenyan government, presented recently by Treasury Minister Henry Rotich.
The first proposal that will be approved by Parliament concerns the compulsory insurance coverage that owners of the famous apecar taxis and motorcycles, for accidents. Coverage that must include passengers and pedestrians.
Statistics from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) indicate that, in the first six months of this year alone, 1,293 people lost their lives in road accidents.
According to the NTSA report, accidents involving boda boda caused 374 deaths, 250 of which were motorcyclists, while the remaining 124 were passengers. As many as 485 pedestrians were killed.
"This type of transport has proved to be very risky for everyone, passengers, cyclists and even for pedestrians. Rotich said, presenting the 2019 Finance Bill - we cannot allow victims of accidents, which often belong to the lowest and most disadvantaged social levels, to be left at the mercy of themselves to seek financial assistance for treatment from friends and relatives because boda bodas are not insured.
Other measures deemed appropriate by the Government include a 15% increase in alcohol and tobacco trading prices, as well as a further 10% increase in sports betting and gambling.
"These additional measures should generate at least 37 billion shillings of tax revenue," confirmed Rotich.