UDA MP Grilled by Boda Rider on Live TV
Molo On Monday, July 3, Member of Parliament Kuria Kimani struggled to sell President William Ruto’s vision of revolutionizing the boda-boda industry.
Ruto’s plan to introduce electric motorcycles was met with skepticism from boda riders, who questioned its impact and viability.
Asborn Agayi, chairman of Boda-boda Embakasi East, accused the chairman of the parliamentary Planning and Finance Committee of lying and misleading the public during a live interview on KTN News.
Kimani had argued that riders would realize enormous profit margins if they adopted electric bikes, as Ruto had suggested.
He stated that gasoline-powered motorcycles consumed Ksh5 per kilometer, which was quite expensive considering the cost of living.
“With an electric bike, a boda-boda driver will use Ksh3 per kilometer,” Kuria stated, adding that adopting Ruto’s plan would result in a 50 percent reduction in operating costs and an increase in profits.
Contrary to Kimani’s assurances, Agayi asserted that the riders would make little to no money by abandoning their gasoline-powered motorcycles.
“The issue with individuals with high salaries is that they are unfamiliar with the plight of the average mwananchi. My brother, with that suit, can’t you see you’re lying?
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Before making such assertions, it is prudent to consult with all relevant parties. Agayi stated that it takes three to four Ksh120 units to charge the battery, adding that he had tested the vast majority of electric bicycles introduced in Kenya.
In addition to other fees, he stated that the cost of fully charging a motorcycle would increase to Ksh200, with only 80 kilometers of range.
According to Agayi, using Kimani’s Ksh3 per kilometer calculation, a rider can earn a meager profit of Ksh40 per eighty kilometers.
Moreover, he argued that electric bike components had to be imported, as opposed to gasoline-powered motorcycles, for which replacement parts are readily available.
Ruto announced on Thursday, June 1 that his administration will introduce electric motorcycles beginning in September 2023 to reduce transportation costs. He added that the government was also in an advanced stage of launching a public transportation system using electric vehicles.
“We are implementing an electric vehicle public transportation system that will significantly reduce transportation costs,” the president said at the time.
Kenneth Onyango, the chairman of the Kenya National Boda Boda Association, advised the government on Wednesday, June 14 to conduct public participation and civic education on the safety features of electric vehicles in response to Ruto’s pledge.
UDA MP Grilled by Boda Rider on Live TV
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