Weaving in and out of traffic, skillfully maneuvering themselves around cars, matatus and busy crossings, boda bodas are as much a part of this country as its trees and parks.Their drivers are easily recognized in their puffer jackets covered in fluorescent vests flapping the wind, while passengers cling to the back mirroring their movements as they take the corners.
Everyone seems to have “their guy”. The one they call when they need to get across town quickly. That one guy that’s the only one they trust. Even the more adventurous tourists will nervously climb on, eager to immerse themselves in the culture.
Now aspiring boda boda riders have the chance to win 400 new TVS brand HLX 123cc motorcycles with the Safaricom Tunukiwa promotion.
The term boda boda comes from “border-border”, as they were first seen in 1960 when people moving between Kenya and Uganda used bicycles to move goods. In the 1990s, these were then replaced by motorcycles which were faster.
They are often the quickest way to get around, particularly in cities where traffic jams could mean hours on the road. For those in rural areas where there is a poor network of roads, they are sometimes the only way to get around without having to walk for hours.
For some rural areas, boda bodas can be as common as bicycles, with children learning to ride them from a very young age.
Julius, a 28-year-old Boda Boda driver from Chogoria said, “Around here, by the time you are 15, you have learnt how to drive one. I learnt when I was 12 myself. My uncles taught me and now I help pay for my sibling’s school fees.”
And it is this need to support families that has led to an increase in the number of boda bodas in the country, particularly among the youth.
In 2015 the number of registered boda bodas in the country were at approximately 500,000 however last year, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics showed that there were 159,260 new motorbikes registered. A rise from the 85,073 seen in 2016.
With little to no formal training required, almost anyone who can ride a bicycle can ride a motorcycle, and for a youth living through a climate with a high unemployment rate, it gives them an opportunity to not only better themselves but their communities as well.
A study conducted in 2015 found that out of 203 drivers in Kericho Town, 152 were between 18-25 years old. Furthermore, it also found that 94% of the youth were able to meet their basic needs with 88% saying their financial abilities had been enhanced.
Looking at the effect on cultural empowerment of the youth, it stated, “The study established that most groups (89%) consider representation from other cultures and a large number (73%) were able to make friends from different cultures.”
And while boda bodas may be marred with some controversy, due to the number of road accidents caused, according to the Motorcycle Assemblers Association of Kenya, the industry generates more than Sh400 million daily, making it a major contributor to the economy.
This year Safaricom will be contributing to to the growing industry by offering over 400 motorcycles as part of a weekly prize draw to be won on a regional level. This comes as part of their Shinda Mamili na Tunukiwa promotion which aims to reward its loyal customers.
To participate in the promotion, customers have to secure Tunukiwa offers by dialing *444# where they will be awarded entry points from 10 points for daily bundles to 500 points for monthly bundles.
The campaign which will run till the 27th of March will see more than five million people win with Tunukiwa – That’s one in 5 Safaricom customers. Prizes sincludes eight grand draw winners of Sh2million per region, 80 winners of Sh500,000 every week per region, 1,200 school fees vouchers and 2,000 neon smartphones. The offer is open to both post pay and prepay customers.