BY ANGELA R. KIURA
Boda boda operators in Embu County have urged the government to subsidise electric motorbikes to make them affordable as rising fuel prices continue to eat into their daily earnings.
The appeal follows the latest fuel price review by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), which increased the price of Super Petrol by KSh12.93 per litre, diesel by KSh9.90 and kerosene by KSh28.49 for the October 15 to November 14 pricing period.
EPRA attributed the increases to rising landed costs of petroleum products and disruptions in global supply linked to the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
Martin Munene, a boda boda operator in Gakwegori, Manyatta Constituency, said the rising cost of fuel was reducing the money riders take home after meeting their daily expenses.
Munene said electric motorbikes offered a potential solution by reducing fuel expenditure, but their high purchase prices remained a major barrier for ordinary operators.
“Electric motorbikes can help us save a lot. We spend too much on fuel, but we cannot afford to buy them because they are too expensive,” he said, urging the government to introduce subsidies to lower their cost.
However, the transition to electric mobility also faces practical challenges. John Kivuti, another boda boda operator, said some electric motorbike models lacked the capacity to carry heavy loads, limiting their suitability for riders whose businesses depend on transporting bulky goods.
The operators have called on the government to accelerate measures aimed at cushioning them against rising operating costs, saying affordable electric motorbikes could help improve their earnings and reduce their dependence on petrol.
They have urged the government to address both the high initial cost of electric motorbikes and their practical suitability for the different transport and delivery services offered by boda boda riders.
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