Have you heard about the new NTSA smart license required for all boda boda riders?
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is preparing to issue new smart driving permits to motorists and boda boda riders. Kevin Mubadi, the founder and National Chairman of the Boda Boda Safety Association of Kenya, further stated that the license will be linked to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) for successful service delivery.
He went on to say that the operators would be obliged to contribute at least Ksh500 per month to the NHIF, but that there would be no ceiling on the NSSF. The rider will be allowed to donate as much as he or she wants, with a daily minimum commitment of Ksh36. He also mentioned that the license will include the riders’ personal information, which would make it easier to track them down in the event of a crash.
“The license already has the details of the rider but right now, under NTSA, the new smart license has a lot of information unlike the previous one and it is also digital. All these are just for easy tracing of the people.
“The smart license will have the name of the SACCO where the rider operates from. For you to get the licenses, you must be registered in a SACCO and the SACCO will be registered under the association so that it becomes a piece of digital information. Once you get the information, you go to NTSA for the license,” he explained.
How will it help?
He went on to say that the improvements will help the operators financially by providing medical care and retirement programs. For KRA, operators will have simple access to services like land purchase, but the costs would vary according to the tax rates.
“The license will have NSSF, NHIF and KRA. KRA will help in buying the goods and land. Instead of moving around with PIN numbers, it will be in that license.
He added:
“We are going to Universal Health Coverage but we are also looking at the pension. It will be prudent for anybody who wants to live a good life, to pay NHIF for health purposes and retirement plans. The charges will follow a schedule. NHIF’s flat rate is Ksh500 per month and NSSF, charges will depend on individuals. If you want to place Ksh100 or Ksh200 fine. The minimum per day for NSSF is Ksh36,”
In an effort to simplify the dysfunctional industry, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i issued a decree requiring all boda boda riders to get new permits. All payments, from license application to exam fees, have been waived, according to Mubadi, in order to allow as many businesses as possible to comply with the new mandate.
“No one will be allowed to operate without the required documents. The first step will be to attend formal training and all fees have been waived by the government. They will only pay school fees charged by the individual school. The license is free as well as the exam,” he stated.
