8,000 boda boda riders form Sh5m cooperative

More than 8,000 boda boda riders have  formed a sacco in Muranga and mobilised Sh5 million in savings.

The riders are also planning to start an insurance agency they will use to insure their members and  outsiders.

Speaking while issuing boda boda licences at Gakoigo show ground in Maragua Sub County, Murang’a governor Mwangi Wa Iria confirmed that a certificate of registration has been issued to the sacco. They have been saving at least  Sh50 daily and have now accumulated Sh5 million.

He called on all the riders to join the established County Boda boda cooperative society which will become an investment vehicle.

KEY TO DEVELOPMENT

“By joining the cooperative society, you will be able to save money and invest in income generating projects,” Governor Wa Iria told the riders.

He pledged that the county will inject Sh10 million into the sacco to help it expand. At the same time, the governor issued 179 licences to the riders. “Most of the 240,000 riders rely on motorcycles daily,” he noted.

Some of the bodabodas have been trained and issued with licences.

This comes at a time when numerous accidents directly or indirectly caused by bodabodas have increased owing to lack of training and failure to observe traffic rules.

The county chief noted that they want to train about 8, 000 riders from the county so as to curb accidents and promote the business which he said is key to the development of the county. “It is unacceptable for riders to put their lives and those of their customers in danger by carrying passengers without valid traffic documents,” he said

Meanwhile, the governor lauded the operators for helping to stop insecurity.

Their ability to penetrate rural areas that are not accessible also make them valuable in providing emergency services, he said.