Received December 24, 2020; Revised December 28, 2020; Accepted December 31, 2020

Abstract: Road safety is one of the biggest challenges facing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although there could be other factors leading to road crashes, literature indicates that rider training is an important aspect in motorcycle safety. This study sought to establish the levels of formal rider training among boda boda riders in Kisumu, and how it influences motorcycle safety. The study examined rider characteristics, the nature of rider training and possession of valid licenses. The study also sought to test whether there was no significant relationship between rider training and accident involvement rates among riders of boda boda motorcycles. It adopted a descriptive research design and employed cluster sampling and systematic random sampling to recruit the study participants. A sample of 70 riders were selected from a population of 10,000 riders in Kisumu. Quantitative data was analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics while qualitative data was analysed using content analysis. The study found that formal rider training levels were low and recommended that the government, through NTSA, ensure training for riders through subsidizing the training fee. In addition, NTSA needed to come up with a standardized training manual that is implemented and audited periodically. This contributes to empirical knowledge on motorcycle safety and may contribute to targeted interventions in road safety.