Boda boda riders reap big after cultivating good savings culture

A serious saving culture has enabled motorbike operators in the Makongeni area of Thika Town, Kiambu County to start buying land to build their permanent houses.

Despite their negative branding as a community associated with crimes, traffic accidents and impunity in the country, the riders have braved all the odds to prove Kenyans otherwise.

By making daily savings of Sh20, the boda boda operators have been able to buy three parcels of land in different parts of the country which they intend to develop by putting up houses that will see them move from the slavery of landlords.

Under the umbrella of Kamenu Stages Boda Boda Association, the riders, with a membership of 3,500, have been leaving nothing to chance to pursue the property-ownership dream.

Financially disciplined

According to their chairman Wilson Githu Kibe, the riders started saving five years ago, a culture that has kept them financially disciplined for years.

“We started from scratch and here we are. We have bought land in various parts of the country through our daily savings. Our passion and dedication to own property has also given us financial discipline that most of us never had before,” he said.

Speaking during the launch of a new investment plan that will see the association start giving soft loans to financially struggling members, Githu called on investors wishing to help them grow economically to collaborate with them in the spirit of a bottom-up economic model. The chairman revealed that the members are pushing to also shift from motorbike riding into operating matatus and are hoping to have saved Sh2.5 million in six months to buy the first matatu.

During the event held at Gosheni College, security heads present urged the riders to work with police in a push to identify rogue operators that are conspiring with thieves to steal from people. They urged the riders to pinpoint the bad people hiding in the industry in a bid to protect their source of income.

Peter Mburu, the Kamenu Ward MCA insisted the need for the riders to be enlisted with National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) cards saying the move will help them alleviate the strain of seeking medical care. Mburu further vowed to advocate for enlisting of the riders to the Kiambu County’s universal health coverage that seeks to help all residents easily access quality and affordable healthcare.

“Boda boda riders need to be insured as their business is very risky,” he noted.