Boda boda leaders have called on riders across Kenya to uphold peace, embrace financial discipline and observe road safety as the country approaches the next election cycle.
The appeal was made during a boda boda empowerment forum held in Mombasa, where riders received free motorcycle servicing, safety education and financial literacy training through a partnership involving the Boda Boda Safety Association of Kenya, Mogo, Bajaj and the Kenya National Entrepreneurs Savings Trust (KNEST).
National Executive Chairman of the Boda Boda Safety Association of Kenya, Kevin Mubadi, said expanding access to motorcycle financing has transformed the livelihoods of many young people by creating employment opportunities and reducing crime.
According to Mubadi, affordable asset financing has enabled thousands of riders who would otherwise be unable to purchase motorcycles worth between KSh180,000 and KSh190,000 to venture into business and earn a steady income.
He warned boda boda operators against being drawn into political violence, saying the sector should instead partner with law enforcement agencies in safeguarding public security.
"We are entering a politically sensitive period, and our members should not allow themselves to be misused. They should focus on their work, cooperate with security agencies and report anything that threatens peace," Mubadi said.
He also urged riders to refrain from mob justice whenever road accidents occur, noting that attacking motorists or destroying property only turns traffic incidents into criminal offences.
Mubadi further praised boda boda operators for avoiding involvement in the recent nationwide demonstrations, saying their restraint had helped improve the image of the sector.
Mombasa County Boda Boda Chairman Samuel Ogutu described the free motorcycle service clinic as timely, noting that rising fuel prices and maintenance costs have strained riders' earnings.
Ogutu said close to 500 motorcycles of different brands were serviced during the event, easing maintenance costs for operators.
He appealed to partners to organize similar programmes regularly to provide riders with technical support while creating opportunities to discuss challenges affecting the sector.
The forum also highlighted the importance of retirement planning for workers in the informal economy.
KNEST Communications Director Lucy Kamau encouraged boda boda riders and other self-employed Kenyans to develop a savings culture, saying many informal workers fail to prepare financially for old age.
Kamau said KNEST allows members to begin saving from as little as KSh50 a day, adding that contributors facing emergencies can access up to 30 per cent of their savings without closing their retirement accounts.
She disclosed that the retirement savings programme, launched in December last year, has already attracted more than 1.5 million members nationwide.
Meanwhile, Mogo Mombasa Area Sales Manager Angela Mohammed emphasized the need for boda boda riders to wear protective gear and obey traffic regulations to reduce road crashes.
She noted that riders financed through Mogo receive helmets and reflective jackets as part of the company's road safety initiative and urged them to use the equipment consistently.
The event combined road safety sensitization, economic empowerment and financial education, with organizers expressing hope that stronger partnerships between the private sector and boda boda associations will continue improving the welfare of motorcycle operators across the country.
