•Some riders pay Sh90,000 or Sh120,000 while others Sh150,000.
•The riders are likely to lose their motorcycles if they fail to pay the money on time.
@robertomollo3
Fuel shortage in Homa Bay has entered the second week as boda boda riders crowd stations to access the commodity.
The riders are unable to operate leading to loss of earnings.
A few of them are operating but unable to get pillion passengers due to increased transport costs.
Homa Bay boda boda association chairman Ken Dede said companies that offer them motorcycles on loan do not get daily payment because there is no business.
Most of the companies sell motorcycles to the riders on loan after depositing cash of Sh15,000.
Boda boda riders are expected to pay the companies Sh370 daily or Sh2,600 per week.
On Monday, Dede said the fuel shortage has interrupted the regular payment.
“Some riders pay Sh90,000 or Sh120,000 while others Sh150,000. The regular submission of money can no longer go on,” Dede said.
The fuel crisis has lowered their income forcing them to default from paying the daily amount.
Dede said riders are likely to lose their motorcycles if they fail to pay the money on time.
The chairman asked the loaning companies to extend the repayment period.
In Homa Bay, one litre of fuel is now being sold at Sh200 up from Sh135.
The county has at least 54,000 riders. The price of kerosene is Sh105 per litre.
“Some riders get to the station at around 3am but get fuel at 10am. Some miss out completely,” he said.
Station operators are now insecure due to the rowdy boda boda riders as they scramble for the commodity.
Rider Geoffrey Okoth said he travelled from Kamato in Ndhiwa where fuel is selling at Sh230 to Homa Bay.
“This is unfortunate and the government should intervene,” Okoth said.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris