Unemployment has been one of the issues affecting many youths in the country and the boda boda business has been handy to supplement this. Soysambu/Mitua ward MCA Stephen Wafula Wamalwa has demonstrated this by ensuring thirty youths from his ward acquire motorbikes which will be used as their source of income.
Speaking during the launch at Brigadier market, Wafula said it is his initiative to empower the youths to be independent in life saying many of them have been previously employed to operate motorbikes owned by others and were remitting a high percentage of their daily income to them. He said with this initiative they will be able to take care of their families, noting that previously they had been misused by politicians who only gave them reflector jackets without knowing where they got the motorbikes. “I want to request you not to accept reflectors from politicians who have not provided motorcycles for you, their aim is only to propel them to achieve the political seats at your expense” he said.
He disclosed that more motorbikes will be delivered to the youths who are registered in the boda boda sacco in the ward saying he plans to propel them to purchase a bus in future. He also vowed to sponsor them start up a spare parts shop to supplement their daily business. The MCA also asserted his stand on the proposed deduction by the ministry of finance on the operators for insurance saying he will lobby his fellow leaders to reject the proposal since the riders earn less and cannot be subjected to further deductions from the government.
Bungoma County Trade CEC Gregory Naulikha challenged the beneficiaries to be disciplined and ensure they save from what they will be receiving on a daily basis for future. He said the boda boda sector is one of the vibrant economic boosters for the country through the taxes they remit saying the players needs to be treated well by the government. He disclosed that the issue of the bodaboda riders being charged differently after ferrying passengers to neighboring counties needs to be addressed saying the riders are really pressed by the issue. Those who benefited applauded the leader’s initiative saying they can now comfortably take care of their financial issues after the boost.