Leaders led by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula have urged boda boda riders to join SACCOs and invest in income-generating projects to improve their livelihoods and achieve long-term financial stability.
Speaking at Mungatsi Primary School in Nambale Sub-county during a boda boda empowerment forum on Saturday, Wetang’ula said the recently launched Shirikiana Digital SACCO offers riders an opportunity to save, access affordable loans and plan for their future.
“The government has already launched Shirikiana SACCO that is digital. When you invest there, you will be able to borrow three times without having any guarantee, with everything being done online. We want you to join the SACCO, so that it can help you to progress, build your family and ensure you live a stable life. As we empower you today, you take a step that will bring progress in life,” he said.
Wetang’ula praised boda boda operators for transforming transport in rural areas and urged them to uphold the law while carrying out their work.
“Rural transport has been revolutionized by this sector. We want you to regulate yourselves and ensure you abide by the laws that govern the sector and the country. We understand the theft cases that are rampant, but the CS in charge of security is already working to ensure that those cases are no longer in existence,” he said.
He also encouraged riders to enroll in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to acquire skills that would improve their employment prospects locally and abroad.
“Many of you have completed secondary school and even tertiary education. We are calling you to work during the day and attend TVETs in the evenings so that you acquire skills. This will enable you to compete for job opportunities in the country and abroad,” he added.
The president’s aide Farouk Kibet called on security agencies to protect boda boda riders from rising criminal attacks while urging operators to obey the law.
“We want our security sector to protect our boda boda riders because they have become vulnerable and are being targeted by criminals. We want to ensure theft cases are not reported again. We also want boda boda operators to obey the laws governing the sector and the country,” he said.
Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot echoed the sentiments by calling for strict enforcement of laws regulating motorcycle financing companies, accusing some lenders of exploiting riders through unfair loan terms.
“We want to know who is licensing those companies that are hurting our boda boda riders. We cannot be paying for three motorcycles yet we have taken only one. Those lending companies must either follow the law or stop operating,” he said.
Busia Governor Dr. Paul Otuoma urged boda boda operators to acquire national identity cards and register as voters, saying the government had continued to invest in the sector through empowerment programmes.
“We want you to take identification cards. Thereafter, we register as voters. Recently, in the registration drive we had a target of 40,000, but managed close to 20,000. We want to register more voters so that we can use our numbers when the right time comes. Our leaders from the government have invested much in the boda boda sector in this county through empowerment, showing their commitment to its growth,” he said.
Nambale MP Geoffrey Mulanya described the boda boda sector as a key contributor to the country’s economy and called for continued empowerment of riders.
“The boda boda sector is one of the largest drivers of our economy, providing livelihoods to thousands of families across the country. It is therefore important that boda boda riders are fully empowered to enhance their capacity, improve their livelihoods and streamline their operations,” he said.
Mulanya also urged residents to support President William Ruto’s re-election, citing development projects undertaken in Busia County.
“For a long time, we suffered in opposition until President Ruto came to power. We have witnessed rapid development in roads and infrastructure that we were lacking. We have deliberately made a decision that we are supporting him fully,” he said.
Teso North MP Oku Kaunya on his side urged riders to invest the empowerment funds in SACCOs and other income-generating ventures instead of spending them.
“As we empower you, don’t share this money but invest it in the SACCO so that it can grow. Invest in projects that will bring prosperity to you and the sector at large. The interest charged at the SACCO is one per cent per month. Let us use this money wisely and make a profit,” he said.
by Salome Alwanda and Rodgers Omondi
