Nyeri governor hopeful Ephraim Maina promises interest-free loans to boda boda operators
Nyeri Senator Ephraim Maina who is also the gubernatorial candidate on the Jubilee ticket has promised to introduce interest-free loans for boda boda riders.
Maina intends to introduce a fund for loans with zero interest for the Nyeri county bodaboda operators as a way of strengthening them through their SACCOs and enabling them to have their own boda bodas as most of them are employed thus making little money for themselves.
Speaking in Nyeri where he met the boda boda operators officials from across the county, Maina stressed that the fund will enable the operators to buy their own motorcycles and be able to make savings.
"Most bodaboda riders are not the owners of the motorcycles that they use and hence, they are not able to make any savings as a large amount of what they earn goes to the owner of the motorcycle. With the high cost of living and increased cost of fuel, they can even end up getting into depression," Maina said.
He further promised that in the first year of his reign he will ensure that all bodaboda operators will acquire motorcycles by getting affordable loans payable within three to five years.
Nyeri governor hopeful also promised training
Maina also promised to start a training school for the riders in Nyeri county in order to ensure that those who will venture into the boda boda business will not operate while untrained, thus reducing the high numbers of motorcycle cycle accidents, as well as establishing an industry for maintenance and repairing the motorcycles.
He further noted that the population has been dwindling as a result of hardships encountered as the young people venturing into this business are no longer able to sustain their families.
"I have realised that the population is going down and these people have told me most of them are not able to sustain their families due to the hardships they are facing," he said.
Maina donated a motorcycle for every boda boda SACCO in all sub-counties in Nyeri.
He however attributed most of the problems being faced in the county to the misuse of the public funds and promised to ensure those culpable will be prosecuted and jailed once hr clinches power.
