NAIROBI, May 6 -- Chinese motorcycle models account for about 35 percent of Kenya's motorcycle market, injecting over 1.3 million U.S. dollars daily to the economy from motorbike taxi operators, officials said on Tuesday.

The chairperson of the Motorcycle Assemblers Association of Kenya (MAAK) Isaac Kalua said the motorcycle taxi industry, commonly known as "boda boda," has become an important player to the country's economy as well as a source of employment.

"From 2007 to date, the motorcycle industry has seen tremendous growth, from about 16,000 units to the present number of over 500, 000, out of which about 35 percent are Chinese models," Kalua said during the launch of the MAAK in Nairobi.

He said MAAK will offer an excellent opportunity for Kenya's motorcycle industry to market their products in the country and to develop effective coordination among its members in order to achieve high standards of cooperation in technical management and other relevant matters pertaining to their business.

"I have confessions from some of those who used to assemble motorbikes under trees that they had to do it because they would be paid according to the number of motorcycles assembled and in the process the quality of some machines would be compromised," the chairman said.

The association has brought together 22 motorcycle companies to serve as a collective voice to its members and to safeguard justified rights of motorcycle assemblers as well as promote safe and lawful motorcycle culture in Kenya in order to play its part in economic development through increase employment and revenue collection.

Among the Chinese motorcycle models assembled in Kenya are Haojin, Jialing, Lifan, Haojue and Yatian.

According to figures released by MAAK, in 2014 the assemblers contributed over 24 million dollars in form of direct taxes only to the Kenyan economy.

Through the assembly plants and distribution network, the industry also offers direct employment opportunities to over 100, 000 Kenyans.