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Tuesday, July 4, 2023 –Boda boda leaders have responded to government proposal to introduce only electric motorbikes for use in their sector.
In a live interview on KTN News on Tuesday July 4, Chairman of Boda-boda Embakasi East, Mr Asborn Agayi, confronted UDA Party Member of Parliament who had attempted to sell the idea as good for their sector.
According to Agayi, government officials wanted to do business with bodaboda riders by introducing electric motorbikes.
The riders’ boss alleged that, by introducing the bikes before consulting widely with the operators, this would amount to impunity and could end up in the court.
He added that maintaining the electric motorbikes was going to be an expensive affair since he had already tested working with one already in the country and the outcome was not so good.
“The problem with high salaries individuals is that they are not familiar with the plight of the common mwananchi. My brother, with your suit, don’t you see that you are lying?
“Before making such assertions, it is prudent to involve all stakeholders. To charge the battery, it takes 3-4 units which are sh 120,” Agayi responded to Molo Member of Parliament Kuria Kimani.
He added that in addition to other rates, the cost of a fully charging a motorcycle would rise to sh 200, powering the bike up to 80 kilometres only.
And therefore, using Kimani’s sh 3 per kilometre calculation, a rider can earn a paltry sh 40 profit per 80 kilometres; making it a worse choice than fuel powered bikes.
He further argued that electric bike components had to be imported, unlike petrol-fuelled motorcycles which have readily available spare parts all over.
President Ruto, on Thursday, June 1, announced that his administration would introduce electric motorcycles starting September 2023 to lower the cost of transportation. The government, he added, was also at an advanced level of launching an electric vehicle public transport system.
