By Tamba Sourie, Chief Executive (ICJR)

Kekeh and bike riders have become a critical part of Sierra Leone’s transportation system. From bustling cities like Freetown and Bo to other provincial towns and remote communities, these riders ferry thousands of commuters daily. They provide essential transport services, especially in areas where formal public transit is lacking.

However, this growing sector, while necessary, remains largely unregulated and chaotic. What was once a solution to mobility challenges is now a major contributor to road accidents, lawlessness, and youth vulnerability. The safety risks posed by these riders to themselves, their passengers, and pedestrians can no longer be ignored.

Many operate without proper licenses or registration. Helmets are rarely worn. Riders can be seen manoeuvring recklessly through traffic, often dressed in slippers, tank tops, and with no regard for basic traffic signs. More troubling is the increasing number of underage riders, boys as young as 16 or 17, who drop out of school to chase quick money. A significant number of them fall into drug abuse, road violence, and other risky behaviors.

Despite the presence of police officers on major roads, enforcement remains inconsistent and often dangerous. Officers chasing unregistered riders through traffic only increases the likelihood of fatal accidents. The current approach is reactive, not preventive, and it is failing.

We need a national conversation about regulating this growing sector, and more importantly, we need urgent action. Here are some practical steps the government and stakeholders can take:

1. Enforce licensing and age restrictions. All commercial bike and Keke riders must be formally registered with biometric IDs. Underage riding must be penalized, and age verification strictly enforced.
2. Introduce mandatory safety training. Every rider must complete a certified road safety and traffic awareness course before operating commercially.
3. Ensure safety gear compliance. Riders and passengers must wear helmets. Operating in slippers or inappropriate clothing should be prohibited.
4. Establish local rider monitoring taskforces. These can work in partnership with local councils, chiefs, and law enforcement to regulate activities at the community level.
5. Create youth reintegration programs. Offer school dropouts opportunities for vocational training or formal education. Give them alternatives to riding for survival.
6. Deploy fixed traffic checkpoints instead of street chases. Properly trained traffic officers should manage checkpoints in urban and provincial areas, intercepting unregistered and unsafe riders calmly and legally.
7. Run nationwide awareness campaigns. Public education is key to promoting safer transport culture and changing behaviors.

Let’s be clear: this is not about stifling livelihoods. Kekeh and bike riding provide employment to thousands of young people. But without structure and regulation, the sector endangers the very lives it is meant to serve. We cannot continue to trade public safety for convenience.

It’s time to bring order to the roads. With the right policy framework, enforcement, and public education, we can transform this sector from a risk to a reliable part of Sierra Leone’s development.

About the Author

Tamba Sourie is the Chief Executive of Initiative for Criminal Justice Reforms (ICJR), and writes on public safety, justice, and governance issues affecting Sierra Leone.

Copy right –Printed in the Expo Times News on Friday, May 23rd, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)