Govt orders bodaboda operators to carry only one person per trip, wear masks

The Ministry of Health has issued new directives to bodaboda operators in a move aimed at averting the spread of the new coronavirus.

Speaking at Afya House, the Ministry of Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said bodaboda operators are at risk of transmitting the virus without knowing.

Operators will now be required to ferry only one passenger per trip.

Additionally, the passenger and the rider will be required to wear masks and keep distance to minimize contact.

“We need to take measures. The most immediate being bodaboda. We need to protect our youth who are in this industry. We will now require every bodaboda to carry one passenger to maintain distance,” CS Kagwe said.

The CS asked the leadership of the bodaboda association to oversee the implementation of the guidelines saying police officers will be supervising it.

Riders will now be receiving free masks from the government in efforts geared at slowing down the community spread of the virus.

Kenya has so far registered 50 cases of the novel coronavirus after 6 people tested positive between Sunday and Monday.

Nairobi now has 34 cases while Kilifi, Mombasa and Kwale have a cumulative 10 cases.