The recent unveiling of boda boda ambulances to ferry expectant mothers across Laikipia County has sparked widespread backlash, with many Kenyans criticising the initiative as primitive, impractical, and potentially unsafe.
The motorcycle ambulances were introduced on Wednesday by Albert Taiti, the County Executive Committee Member for Health, at Nanyuki County Referral Hospital.
The project targets hard-to-reach areas, particularly in Laikipia North, where access to conventional ambulances is limited by poor road networks.
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The initiative, described by county officials as the first of its kind in the region, is aimed at reducing maternal mortality by ensuring pregnant women in remote locations reach health facilities in time.
Speaking during the launch in Nanyuki, Governor Joshua Irungu said the move was informed by recurring challenges faced by residents when seeking emergency medical services.
“We have seen cases where pregnant women and the sick lose their lives because they could not reach hospitals on time. These motorcycle ambulances are designed to navigate terrains where conventional ambulances cannot reach,” Irungu said.
The governor explained that the boda bodas have been customised with sidecars fitted with stretchers, first aid kits, and space for medical personnel to accompany patients.
He added that the county had identified several hotspots in Laikipia North and Laikipia West where the ambulances will be stationed.
Despite the assurances, the project was immediately met with public outrage. Many Kenyans questioned the safety and dignity of transporting heavily pregnant women on motorcycles, citing rough terrain and concerns over reckless riding.
Some residents of Laikipia also rejected the initiative, arguing that the county should instead invest in modern, fully equipped ambulances. Critics described the motorcycle carriers as uncomfortable and cheaply assembled, unfit for medical emergencies.
The boda boda ambulances consist of standard motorcycles fitted with a side-mounted carrier, which critics likened to a wheelbarrow-style extension in which patients are expected to sit while being transported across rugged landscapes.
“Kwani, what’s wrong with Laikipia leaders? First, some silly car and now this. Do they hate women this much? An ambulance costs between Sh5 million and Sh10 million depending on customisation. With Sh200 million, the county can have 20 to 40 ambulances instead of this mkokoteni,” wrote X user Jasper Mogire.
Another Kenyan wrote, “It is 2026. We are taxed to our fingertips. Billions are stolen every day. Boda bodas shouldn’t be used to ferry sick people, much less pregnant mothers. And some Kenyans are cheering—as if politicians would allow their families to use boda ambulances.”
Dr Kipkoech Cheruiyot also weighed in, questioning the decision-making process behind the project. “Let it be known people planned meetings in high-end hotels, paid themselves huge allowances on top of fat salaries, to discuss and approve such things,” he said.
Another user added, “This is nothing to celebrate. This is rubbish. Utter rubbish. Four years away from Vision 2030 and we have boda boda ambulances for pregnant women?”
However, the county defended the project, noting it is being piloted in partnership with the Eezer Initiative, a Swedish-backed programme supporting rural healthcare mobility in Africa.
According to Eezer’s Laikipia coordinator, Alfred Sadera, the project seeks to bridge a critical gap in maternal health access.
“We believe this project will solve most of the challenges related to access to care,” Sadera said. “We understand this region struggles with poor roads and long distances to health centres, especially for women in labour.”
Eezer has previously piloted similar motorcycle-ambulance programmes in Burundi, where 71 units reportedly facilitated over 24,000 pregnancy-related transports between 2021 and 2023.
As debate continues, the Laikipia boda boda ambulances have reignited a national conversation on healthcare priorities, public spending, and the balance between innovation and patient safety in Kenya’s devolved health system.