Lots of boda-boda riders earn an honest living, but a few bad elements shouldn’t lead to mass condemnation of the whole boda-boda fraternity. The business may have its negatives, such as encouraging school dropouts, but it’s here to stay.
One question that rolled through my mind is how much riders are charged for the breakdown services, and who owns these vehicles. It’s amazing how things unfold every other day. With the economic tides kicking in, everyone is tirelessly trying to grab any opportunity that comes their way.
Business came to a standstill in Keroka town, Nyamira county after two boda-boda riders clashed in public over a female client.
According to witnesses, trouble started when Devis Onsinyo grabbed Charity Kemunto from Arnold Osoro’s motorbike. “Kemunto came to the stage and asked Osoro to ferry her to Keroka law court but Onsinyo insisted that it was his turn to ferry a customer. Osoro insisted that he will only ferry Kemunto because she chose him,” said David Ombogo.
Mr Ombogo said Onsinyo forced Kemunto to alight from Osoro’s motorbike prompting to the clash. “Osoro and Onsinyo started fighting as members of the public watched. It took the intervention of the area chief to stop the two from fighting,” he noted.
Kennedy Ndege, the area chief, condemned the two riders saying it was shameful for them to fight. “I was going round supervising the ongoing Huduma number registration when I found the two fighting. I managed to stop them and upon questioning them I was shocked when I was told they were fighting because of a female client,” he said.
He warned riders against unnecessary fights adding that such fights may end up causing deaths.