BODA BODA SACCO GETS SH 1M BOOST FROM THE GOVERNOR Boda Boda taxi operators in Homa Bay County have a reason to smile after the County Government donated Sh 1million as seed money to boost operations of their newly formed Savings and Cooperative Society. The County Government has also partnered with the Automobile Association of Kenya (AA) to train its more than 20,000 Boda-Boda riders to help reduce road carnage. Governor Cyprian Awiti said the Boda-Boda industry was growing rapidly and had become a major player in the County’s economy, hence the need to give it a fresh attention. He said the training would equip the riders with necessary skills to enable them acquire licenses and help end frequent confrontation with law enforcers. The governor was speaking at the Homa bay stadium when he launched the Homa Bay County Boda-Boda Riders Road Safety and Enterprise Development initiative. “The Boda Boda industry is currently the biggest employer in the County. But it’s also killing and maiming our people. This is why we have launched this road safety campaign to save the lives of our riders and their customers,” said Mr Awiti. He said his government will give support to the riders’ sacco, adding that the Sh 1m seed money was just the beginning. He said his government’s decision to partner with the Automobile Association was meant to fast rack the training and issuance of road licenses to the riders. The Governor however decried the high number of deaths and injuries from motor cycle accidents. “The Boda boda business brings income but kills and maims our people in equal measure. We have lost many people in motorcycle accidents, many of which were avoidable,” he said. He added: “ I am reliably told that out of the estimated 20,000 motor cycle riders operating in the County, about 75 per cent of the riders have not been to any riding school and that only 10 per cent have comprehensive insurance covers.” Mr Awiti also distributed ten ice boxes donated by Coca-Cola Company to the Sacco members to enable them supplement their income by selling soft drinks. The Governor said the Red Cross Society of Kenya will also train the riders on First Aid skills.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Nov 2014 15:32:17 +0000
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