Taita Taveta County Partners With NAPTA to Modernise Public Transport and Improve Road Safety
The Taita Taveta County Government has entered into a partnership with the National Public Transport Alliance (NAPTA) aimed at reforming and modernising the county’s public transport system while enhancing road safety amid the growing dependence on boda boda services.
Motorcycle taxis have become the dominant mode of transport in many parts of Taita Taveta due to limited road connectivity and the long distances between towns and rural settlements. The sector has played a major role in boosting local mobility, trade, and access to economic opportunities, but concerns over safety and regulation continue to rise.
According to data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), motorcycles account for a significant number of road accidents, fatalities, and serious injuries across Kenya, prompting increased calls for reforms within the transport sector.
The partnership agreement was reached during an introductory meeting between NAPTA officials led by Executive Director Charles Acholi and county leaders headed by Deputy Governor Christine Saru Kilalo.
Speaking during the meeting, Kilalo said the county government is committed to building a safe, accessible, and efficient transport system capable of supporting economic growth while addressing safety concerns affecting boda boda operators and commuters.
“The reason why we build the public transport sector is to make it easy for people to access economic opportunities and move their goods to areas of demand. While the boda boda sub-sector has plugged into that gap, our biggest concern is safety,” Kilalo stated.
NAPTA Executive Director Charles Acholi revealed that the organisation is developing a transport modernisation model for Taita Taveta County, which could later be replicated in other counties across the country.
“We are in the process of exploring how to modernise our fleet in Taita Taveta County to make it a model in public transport provision,” Acholi said.
County Executive Committee Member for Transport Martin Tairo acknowledged that the current transport legal framework remains weak and requires strengthening to improve enforcement, coordination, and safety oversight.
He noted that although the county has already established a transport safety committee under the NTSA framework, implementation has faced challenges due to limited resources.
“The Transport Act we have is not strong enough, so we need to strengthen it. We have also created a county transport safety committee under the NTSA Act, which exists but is not fully implemented due to lack of proper resources,” Tairo explained.
County Chief Officer for Transport Rina Mwanake said ongoing spatial planning initiatives in the county provide an opportunity to integrate modern transport solutions such as e-mobility systems, pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, and improved urban mobility planning.
She added that the collaboration with NAPTA aligns with the county’s long-term development agenda and will support structured implementation of modern transport systems.
“The advantage we have in Taita Taveta County is that we are in the final stages of spatial planning, so NAPTA’s idea is timely in terms of e-mobility, pedestrian systems, and ensuring everyone is onboard throughout implementation,” Mwanake said.
The county government is now expected to develop an implementation framework that will guide policy reforms, infrastructure upgrades, safety measures, and stakeholder capacity-building within the public transport sector.
