Nakuru County and the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) are working on a new financial services model for the Boda boda sector that will help deepen financial inclusion and enhance access to affordable and flexible financing among the operators.
Governor Susan Kihika indicated that the ‘Boda Boda Fund’ set to be launched in August, will help boost the sector financially and help in creating more employment opportunities among the youths.
Noting that the county government and the banking institution will provide financial literacy to the operators for good management, Ms. Kihika explained that most of them need funds to start other business ventures but have been lacking sources.
Speaking in her office when she met a team from Kenya Commercial Bank, the governor said boda boda operators play a vital role in the local economy and deserve affordable credit facilities to work smoothly.
According to the governor, boda boda operators contribute significantly to economic activity by connecting communities, creating employment opportunities, and supporting the movement of goods and people.
“I acknowledge the indispensable role they play in driving economic growth, creating employment opportunities, and facilitating the movement of people and goods across our communities,” Ms. Kihika added.
She affirmed that the County was focusing on the need to protect legitimate operators while maintaining law and order.
The governor added that the fund will help thousands of young people in the sector acquire motorcycles through affordable deposits and manageable repayment plans.
The boda boda sector remains one of Kenya’s largest sources of informal employment. In many parts of Kenya, riders provide essential transport services in areas where public transport options remain limited.
For many residents in Nakuru, motorcycles serve as the main link between homes, markets, schools, and health facilities.
Ms. Kihika noted that with more than 2.4 million motorcycles operating across Kenya, the sector had grown as one of the largest informal employers, absorbing thousands of youths who might otherwise remain jobless.
She said that at its core, the boda boda industry thrives because it fills a critical gap in Kenya’s transport system. In both urban and rural areas, motorcycles offer swiftness, affordability, and accessibility, where conventional public transport falls short.
“The operators navigate poor roads, reach remote villages, and provide last-mile connectivity that buses and matatus cannot,” the county boss pointed out.
She described boda boda operators as a critical component of Kenya’s economic and social fabric, saying that they were not just riders but entrepreneurs and essential service providers whose contribution keeps the country moving.
While the boda boda trade has frequently come under fire for indiscipline and criminal associations, the governor was quick to defend the majority of operators, whom she said are law-abiding and hard-working citizens.
The forum also tackled the issue of security, with Ms. Kihika condemning criminal elements within the sector, while stressing that enforcement measures would be targeted and fair.
“We will not allow criminals to hide behind helmets, but we will also not treat every rider as a suspect. We are here to work with you, not against you,” she warned.
The governor encouraged operators to be active participants in community policing efforts, saying their close connection to neighborhoods puts them in a unique position to contribute to intelligence sharing and public safety.
She rallied riders to take advantage of ongoing government initiatives such as the Affordable Housing Programme and Universal Health Coverage.
Ms. Kihika stated that her administration had rolled out the Wezesha Fund, a Sh100 million loan initiative aimed at empowering small-scale businesspeople and farmers through affordable credit.
She disclosed that the Fund had already disbursed Sh76 million to cooperative societies and registered groups, with the Governor emphasizing that the Fund was part of her broader commitment to fulfill her manifesto pledge of supporting grassroots economic growth.
“Wezesha is about empowering our people to access credit, scale their enterprises, and improve livelihoods,” she said.
The Fund is being distributed through KCB Bank under two components: the County Enterprise Fund, which targets registered self-help groups, and the Cooperative Revolving Fund, designed for cooperative societies.
Under the current structure, registered groups can access loans ranging from Sh50,000 to Sh200,000, while cooperative societies can receive between Sh200,000 and Sh5 million.
Governor Kihika encouraged small traders, boda boda riders, Community Health Promoters (CHPs), women, and youth to join Saccos or registered groups to qualify for the funding.
She noted that 2,762 out of 3,300 CHPs have already joined the Nakuru CHP Sacco. The governor also urged residents to register for the Social Health Authority (SHA) program, assuring them of improved access to healthcare services.
She reminded beneficiaries that the Wezesha Fund is a loan, not a grant. “Timely repayment is essential to allow others to benefit and to enable access to larger credit amounts in future disbursements,” she stated.
Governor Kihika further called for collaboration with donors, financial institutions, and the private sector to expand the fund through grants and co-financing opportunities.
By Esther Mwangi
