At 27 years old, Felix Okoth from Kanyada Riwa in Homa Bay, has experienced the highs and lows in the pursuit of livelihood.
Okoth was trained at Mawego Technical Training Institute, where he studied building and construction.
After years of fruitless job hunting, the father of two found himself grappling with the harsh realities of an unstable job market.
With bills to pay and a family to support, Okoth took a loan to purchase a motorcycle and started working as a boda boda rider.
He paid back the loan in daily or weekly instalments, depending on his daily earnings. He also joined a community-based organisation that gave him the opportunity to connect with others in the same industry, offering a sense of solidarity and shared ambition.
But Okoth’s prayers were answered when Governor Gladys Wanga’s administration announced its commitment to support the boda boda industry, changing his life completely.
“Our sector has been neglected for too long, but when the governor stepped in, it was the best thing that could have happened to us,” Okoth said with a smile.
He was among the first beneficiaries of the Inua Boda Boda Initiative, a transformative programme introduced by Wanga.
The programme helped him start a side business in onion farming on one acre. His efforts paid off and the business began to thrive.
Okoth also used the loan to set up a shop for his wife and ploughed back some of the cash into his account to boost his motorbike business.
“I now have another side hustle that complements what I earn as a bodaboda operator. This has allowed me to sustain my family and myself.”
Okoth’s story is one of many in Homa Bay, where the initiative has had a significant impact. Catherine Beth, a member of the Arujo ward boda boda sacco, shared her story.
The dealer in motorcycle spare parts says boda boda Saccos offer a great opportunity for women in business.
“For a long time, these Saccos have been perceived as male-dominated, but women can also join and benefit.”
Launched with the goal of restructuring and empowering the bodaboda sector, its implementation was timely, coming in as the industry struggled with financial instability and lack of organisation.
The initiative stands as a model of youth empowerment and structured economic participation. With over 30,000 youths relying on the sector, the programme has provided them the tools they needed to thrive.
