Saccos mitigate the effects of sudden death

Robert Ochoro and Christine Musa

After the deaths of many riders, boda bodas coalesced and came up with welfare groups to cater for those left behind and also plan burial arrangements for the dead.

In Kitengela town, Kajiado County, the boda boda association boasts of a membership of 7, 000 riders , leadership wrangles have scuttled efforts to form an association to cater for their loved ones in the event of death of a member.

Claims have emerged of how some officials of the boda boda association take advantage of the members who die without writing wills or informing their families about their savings to keep all the money.

Jackline Achieng, a 34-year-old mother of five who lost her husband through a hit and run car accident recently is one of the few beneficiaries of the sacco after officials accepted that her husband was a member.

Black day

The welfare association catered for all her husband’s burial expenses, besides giving her Sh20,000 towards her children’s school fees.

Her 42-year-old husband Ibrahim Ouma Odhiambo died on the spot after being hit by a speeding vehicle on December 27.

“My husband was hurriedly buried because he was a Muslim. It was a black day for us as a family since he was the sole breadwinner of our five children,” says Achieng.

However, Stephen Mutiso, who is the chairman of Kitengela boda boda riders association that was registered in May 2018 and currently has 3,200 members, dismiss claims of misappropriation of members’ contributions.

Mutiso says that whenever any of their riders die, each member is required to contribute Sh200 towards the funeral expenses.

And with a membership of 3, 200, the association collects an estimated Sh600,000.

Kisii County’s boda boda chairman, Gisore Orechi attributed most of the accidents to drunk driving and speeding by the riders.

He appealed to the government to formulate policies to guide the sector, with a particular emphasis on commercial motorbikes being fitted with speed governors to aid in reducing accidents.

Kisumu County Boda boda riders’ union chairman Willis Akech said most of the motorcycle accidents reported are caused by ignorance about traffic rules especially among new riders.

Because of that, he says, the union is liaising with other agencies and local leaders to train their members in order to enhance compliance with traffic regulations and minimise deaths.

He, however, said many union members were well trained and licensed.

Akech observed that because of the training, the number of boda boda accidents had reduced in Kisumu.

“We ask our members to comply with the traffic rules so that boda boda accidents can be reduced further,” said Akech.

The official urged riders to join saccos to enable them improve their welfare, noting that through the kitty they can access loans to facilitate their development aspirations.

He added that the union also follows up on matters of compensation to members who are involved in accidents.

In Busia, the Boda boda chairman Erick Makokha says there are about 300 widows and more than 5,000 orphans that have resulted from accidents.

He says most of the widows are young girls aged between 19 and 29 years whose late husbands died through road accidents while others were murdered by thugs who also took away their motorbikes.

Makokha says some of their members get killed by clients who turn out to be criminals.

“Efforts by about 50 widows to form an association with a membership fee of Sh200 could not materialise due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” Makokha disclosed.

The association’s chairlady Mary Auma from Matayos Sub-County said most of her colleagues were unable to raise the membership fee of Sh200 because they were jobless.