Kajiado East MP’s office to set up a training program for bodaboda riders in all five wards in the constituency as a way of improving road safety
By Faith Nashipae
Kajiado East MP Peris Tobiko has pledged to roll out a fund to enable all bodaboda operators, in the constituency, undergo road safety training under the National Youth Service (NYS).
“We want to empower bodaboda operators so that they get the right skills that will enable them go about their activities safely, which will also benefit their clients,” said Tobiko.
The MP said this when she received the first batch of about 50 riders who had successfully completed the course, at the Kajiado East CDF offices, in Kitengela.
The move, she explained was prompted by a request that was made by the chairman of Kitengela Bodaboda Association, Simon Mutiso. “Mutiso asked if I would be in a position to fund the training of his group of bodaboda riders and I promised to help with the little funds at my disposal,” explained Tobiko.
However, having seen the results of the training, the MP decided to make the training official and now plans to incorporate all riders in the other four wards in the constituency, namely Poka Kenyawa, Orsirkon Sholinke, Imarooro and Kaputiei North.
On his part Mutiso thanked Tobiko for agreeing to fund their initiative, adding that the training had instilled new positive values in the riders. “We now stand for peace in service to the people,” he added.
Speaking during the event, which also served as an occasion to issue bursary cheques, Isinya DCC, Justus Musau supported the training saying that with the new road safety awareness, there will be reduced cases of traffic accidents involving bodabodas. “We are tired of accidents where riders get injured or lose their lives,” he said. “We now want you to focus on your work, which is ferrying passengers and goods. We don’t want to hear of cases where bodabodas are used to ferry contraband or stolen goods.”
The first batch of training was financed by the Kajiado East CDF to the tune of sh300,000, whose cheque was handed over to Florence Omanwa, the NYS officer, who is in charge of bodaboda training in Kajiado County.
