By Peter Ochieng
11 County boda-boda chairmen have received a donation of laptops from Watu Credit, in a bid to digitize their operations, including record keeping geared towards preventing crime in the sector.
Migori, Homabay, Bomet, Nandi, Kericho, Vihiga, Trans Nzoia, Kisii, Uasin Gishu, Busia and Kisumu boda-boda leadership, received the electronic devices, during an event held at the Kisumu County Bodaboda Association office, on Friday.
In addition, the Kisumu County boda-boda office received office chairs and tables in a move aimed at empowering the riders.
Speaking during the event, John Tirop, Deputy Vice Chairman, national Boda-boda Association of Kenya (BAK) who doubles up as the chairman in Nandi County said with the laptop, his office is ‘moving from analogue to digital.’
“In my office currently, we are conducting our affairs in an analogue manner. With this laptop, we are going to change to digital. I will be able to come up with the database of my members in the whole county, and the number of saccos we have,” said Tirop.
“We have criminals who hide in the boda-boda sector. We will have to do registration of all boda-bodas in my county so that it becomes easy to know if there is one engaging in crime,” he added.
His sentiments were echoed by Jacob Ochieng, Kisumu County Boda Boda Association chairman. Ochieng said the laptop comes in hand in record keeping, among other issues.
Victor Getenya, Head of Sales and Marketing at Watu Credit on his part said they are working with about 1, 700 boda boda chairmen at the ward level across the country, adding that they intend to ensure that at least every chair at the county level has a laptop.
“This is a drive that has not been done by anyone before, and we are really pushing to make sure that we are represented this way in all the 47 Counties of Kenya.”
He thanked members of the boda-boda sector for being a valued partner to the organization.