BODA BODA’ THE PERFECT TRAVEL MEANS OF TRANSPORT OR A MENACE.

Boda boda is a name for a bicycle taxi. It is a famous means of transport in most of small fast growing towns in Kenya especially border towns i.e. Busia and Malaba borders.

When the cock crows at dawn people rush out of their beds. Children are eager to get to school before 7:00 am. They always remain ahead of their teachers, more than than 10,000 young people in Busia town to and from school bicycles which are manually operated were introduced to their roads. This town has all the streets with earthen roads leading to the schools, offices, markets, churches and all areas of residence.

These young angels sighed with relief with the arrival of the ‘boda boda’ which are fairly affordable and reliable means of transport ,but their joy was short lived because they had to struggle with the heavy bicycle and human traffic with the mad traffic and rush on the road. Children soon realized that bicycle transport was being preferred by most people in total oblivions of their safety since this travel means, came to be without any safety lessons for the bicycle operators nor any preparation like registration and fixing of transport costs to the various and varying destinations within the town of operation and its environs.

Public service vehicles offer transport into and outside for long distances. No public service vehicles ply town estates or roads to institutions and other public places. Where does this leave the common man? Walk or use the bicycle taxi on the single two way road which is narrow and cyclists have to be very carefull.As messy as it may appear the best option to move around town is to hop it a bicycle taxi- pay 20/= for a 15 minutes ride. Traders transport there goods to markets and shops on these taxis. Civil servants and the rest of the public rely on them. Some roads are footpaths, muddy and really rough but the bicycles have to maneuver and drop people at their doorsteps. This lucrative business earns operators 20/= per trip.

It’s never always smooth riding. People have been involved in accidents while on these taxis for instance one taxi operator actually drove onto an oncoming petrol tanker, killed himself and seriously injured his passenger. More than 50 operators have lost their lives since 1990 when incepted.

Many passengers have found themselves in plasters of paris, hospitalized or permanently tramaitiised due their ordeals on the roads on these hardy, travel means though potentially dangerous.

School children to have not been spared, been harassed or been left in the middle of nowhere by uncaring bicycle taxi operators whom children entrust with their children.

The government local council authorities have no control over these operators. The situation is bound to grow from worse to worst since its nobody’s business to put things in order. Well, the public remains at the mercy of these operators since after all these is the only readily available, cheap and suitable means of transport in fast growing small towns for example border towns for example Busia, Malaba just to mention a few.

The question that many ask themselves is it asking too much of the government to ensure safety for all Kenyans on these poor roads.

 

Bye, Evelyn Mukanda