Wanga rallies boda boda riders to join saccos, boost revenue

Homa Bay boda boda riders need to pay revenue through their registered groups to eliminate cases of pilferage, Governor Gladys Wanga said.

The governor argued that it would also be easier for the riders to pay revenue as a team than individually.

Homa Bay has invested in a digital revenue collection system which was introduced to seal all corruption loopholes.

Homa Bay has more than 58,000 boda boda riders but Wanga said some riders collude with revenue officers to steal from the government.

““It's easier to pay revenue using registered groups than individually and prevent cases of theft. Revenue officers who receive cash will be dismissed,” she said.

Wanga encouraged the riders to join groups and register their savings and credit cooperative societies for effective regulations and operations.

Wanga advised the operators who have not registered in any group to come together and form their own.

From the groups, she said, members can deposit money for savings and the saccos be used to remit revenues to the county government.

“The county government will get money paid as revenue from the registered groups. Each group or sacco will then issue stickers to members to show that they have paid tax,” Wanga said.

Speaking on Saturday during the official launch of East Kamagak boda boda combined cooperative society in Kasipul constituency, Wanga said Homa Bay is banking on revenue collection as one of the major sources of funds.

She was accompanied by Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga, Kwame Otiende Foundation director Kwame Otiende and God Will Provide organization director Newton Ogada.

Magwanga said boda boda is among the sectors with many people that can generate more revenue to the county if regulated well.

“We want motorcycle riders to invest in saccos for their future benefits. Some benefits include dividends and other proceeds from your savings,” he said.

Through his foundation, Otiende said he provided the boda boda riders with reflector jackets, helmets, deposited in their bank accounts over Sh120,000 and supported training to secure licenses.

Otiende said boda boda is the biggest employer in Homa Bay and investing in them will enhance their economic transformation.

He urged members of boda boda to engage in other business activities like poultry keeping and crop production to increase their sources of income.

“We believe that saving in saccos is the most appropriate way the boda boda riders can get economic empowerment. Banking institutions will be able to offer them loans and reinvest in other business ventures for growth,” Otiende said.

Ogada said his organization has paid for more than 200 boda boda riders NHIF.

“My organization is also supporting the education of the less fortunate children and build their families houses. We are doing all these to improve the lives of the riders,” Ogada said.

Apart from boda boda sector, Homa Bay generates revenue from health facilities, the county Water and Sanitation Company. 

The department of Trade collects revenue from liquor permits to the county revenue fund (CRF) account.