The boda boda industry has over time become a vital source of employment for thousands of young people across Homa Bay county, offering a lifeline in a region where formal jobs are limited.
While the sector provided employment, true financial independence often remained out of reach. Riders transport passengers, deliver goods and connect communities to markets and other places, while supporting countless households through their daily earnings.
For years, many of the young boda boda riders in Homa Bay County have shared the same dream, to own a motorcycle. For them, owning a motorcycle means more than possessing an asset.
It means keeping a larger share of daily earnings, improving household income and gaining greater financial security.
Every morning, they reported to work on motorcycles they did not own, spending long hours on the road only to surrender a significant portion of their earnings to owners through daily lease payments.
Without sufficient capital, many operators have also been forced to lease motorcycles, or rely on expensive loans that leave little room for savings or investment. The result has been a cycle in which riders work hard, but struggle to build assets of their own.
However, the emergence of Savings and Credit Cooperatives Societies (SACCO) loan programs proved to be a savior for most of the riders, providing them with a viable financial solution by enabling them to access credit and promote savings culture.
According to Richard Opiyo, Chairperson of the Homa Bay Sub-County Boda Boda Association, support provided through SACCOs has begun helping some riders break that cycle.
Some riders are now making the transition from operators to business owners, creating new opportunities for economic growth and self-reliance in one of the county’s most important sectors.
The County Government has also supported the boda boda operators through the Inua Boda Boda Initiative where Governor Gladys Wanga disbursed Sh40 million as grants, which was distributed across the 40 wards, with each ward receiving Sh1 million, a move meant to funds that provide affordable loans to the riders.
This support has given the riders an opportunity to access financing that was previously beyond their reach.
“The government has tried to support us through SACCOs. Riders who wish to access the loans are required to register with a SACCO. The support has helped some members improve their businesses and earn a better living,” he says.
For some beneficiaries, the loans have represented more than financial assistance, they have become a pathway to ownership.
At Aruja Boda Boda SACCO Transit, members have been using loans to purchase motorcycles, expand businesses and diversify their sources of income.
Kenneth Buana, the SACCO’s Credit Officer and Treasurer of the Homa Bay Sub-County Boda Boda Association, reiterates that the impact has been significant.
“The loans have changed the lives of many riders. Some have managed to buy their own motorcycles, while others have invested in other income-generating activities,” he informs.
The SACCO, which has 240 registered members, began issuing loans in January 2025 and has already conducted several rounds of disbursements.
The transformation is taking place alongside improvements in infrastructure that have made movement easier across the county.
Better roads have reduced movement challenges and opened up new economic opportunities by connecting riders to more customers and markets.
Opiyo recalls a time when roads in areas such as Nyalkinyi became nearly impassable during rainy seasons. “Today many roads have been tarmacked, making it easier for riders to access customers and transport goods,” he says.
For thousands of riders in Homa Bay, the motorcycle is no longer just a means of transport. It is a tool for entrepreneurship and a vehicle for economic mobility.
With more than 7,000 boda boda riders operating in Homa Bay town Sub-County alone, demand for affordable credit continues to exceed available resources. Many operators are still waiting for opportunities to access financing that could help them grow.
Others say additional reforms are needed to make support programs more effective.
Hemstone Otieno Joshua, Assistant Chairman of the Usiku SACCO Team, says some riders struggle to understand repayment conditions attached to certain loan facilities.
He also highlights insecurity, poor roads in some areas and non-functional street lights as persistent challenges affecting operators.
“The government should improve security, repair roads and ensure that loan programs are fair and transparent so that riders can benefit fully. With more riders gaining access to credit and ownership opportunities, the sector is proving that with the right support, it can be more than a source of employment,” Joshua notes.
With the rise in fuel prices and operational expenses, the boda boda community is calling for increased investment in the sector.
They argue that expanding SACCO funding, strengthening security and improving infrastructure would help more young people build sustainable livelihoods.
by Regina Joy and Sitna Omar
