By Perez Karisa,July 2,2026
President William Ruto’s Senior Advisor on Constitutional Affairs, Prof. Makau Mutua, has sparked a fresh national conversation after questioning why tuk-tuks are allowed to operate on major highways and high-speed urban roads, arguing that the three-wheeled vehicles are unsuitable for such environments.
In a statement shared on his X account on Thursday, July 2, Mutua said Kenya must rethink the place of tuk-tuks in its transport system if it hopes to improve road safety, modernize its cities, and ease traffic flow. His remarks quickly generated widespread reactions from transport operators, road safety advocates, policymakers, and members of the public.
Mutua argued that tuk-tuks, which are designed for short-distance travel at relatively low speeds, create hazards when they share roads with fast-moving vehicles such as buses, lorries, and private cars. According to him, the significant speed differences between tuk-tuks and other vehicles increase the risk of accidents while disrupting the smooth flow of traffic on highways and major roads.
He described the vehicles as mechanically ill-equipped for multi-lane highways and suggested that Kenya should gradually move toward restricting their operations to areas better suited to their design, such as residential estates, town centres and designated feeder roads.
Beyond safety concerns, Mutua also linked the issue to urban planning and city aesthetics. He argued that modern cities should have orderly and efficient transport systems, saying reducing the presence of slow-moving three-wheelers on major roads would contribute to a cleaner and more organized urban environment.
His comments, however, do not amount to government policy. The Ministry of Transport clarified that Mutua was expressing his personal views and that no proposal has been presented to Cabinet or Parliament seeking a nationwide ban on tuk-tuks. Government officials emphasized that there is currently no legislative process underway to prohibit the vehicles from operating.
The latest remarks are consistent with Mutua’s long-held position on informal transport. In previous public statements, he has repeatedly criticized boda bodas, calling for them to be removed from major cities because of concerns over road discipline, traffic congestion, and public safety. He has maintained that Kenya’s transport sector requires significant reforms if it is to match the standards of more developed economies.
His latest proposal has nevertheless attracted strong criticism from stakeholders across the transport industry.
Tuk-tuk operators say the vehicles provide an essential service, particularly in urban estates and peri-urban areas where conventional buses cannot easily access. They argue that the vehicles offer affordable last-mile transport for thousands of commuters every day while creating employment opportunities for many young Kenyans.
Industry representatives also point out that the sector supports thousands of livelihoods beyond drivers alone, including mechanics, spare parts dealers, financiers, insurance providers, fuel stations and vehicle import businesses. They warn that sweeping restrictions could have significant economic consequences for families that depend on the industry.
Critics further argue that banning tuk-tuks would contradict the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which seeks to empower small businesses, informal enterprises and youth entrepreneurs. They contend that instead of prohibiting the vehicles, authorities should invest in better regulation, driver training, licensing, and dedicated lanes where feasible.
Road safety experts have offered a more balanced perspective, acknowledging that speed differentials between vehicles are a genuine safety concern but suggesting that targeted regulation would be more effective than outright bans. Some have proposed restricting tuk-tuks from selected highways with high speed limits while allowing them to continue operating on urban roads where traffic moves at slower speeds.
Others have called for stricter enforcement of existing traffic laws, mandatory safety inspections, improved driver education, and clearer road classification to determine where different categories of vehicles should be permitted to operate.
The debate also highlights broader questions about Kenya’s rapidly evolving transport network. As the country continues investing in highways, bypasses and urban mobility projects, policymakers face the challenge of balancing modernization with protecting the livelihoods of thousands of people working in the informal transport sector.
For now, Mutua’s proposal remains a personal policy recommendation rather than an official government initiative. However, his remarks have reignited discussions about road safety, transport planning, urban development and the future role of tuk-tuks within Kenya’s growing transport infrastructure.
