Thika: The economic empowerment programmes going on in several parts of the country continue to change lives in Thika, with 30 boda-boda riders benefiting from free motorcycles, which they are using to uplift their lives. Among them are James Ndegwa and Moses Karanja, who are now earning livelihoods from the motorcycles after struggling for months to get gainful employment.

According to Kenya News Agency, Ndegwa, a former bodaboda operator whose motorbike was repossessed by a bank after failing to pay a loan he had applied for to purchase it, says the new motorcycle might be his breakthrough in life. Ndegwa says losing his bike made life difficult, with no source of income to the extent of being unable to cater to his family’s needs.

‘It was quite a struggle after I lost my motorbike to the bank. I depended on it to cater to all my needs and without it, I could not provide for my family. This empowerment programme has given me new hope to restart my life,’ said Ndegwa.

Karanja, another beneficiary who lost his motorbike to an accident a year ago, said the programme has given him new hope of getting back to the boda-boda business, which he cherished. Karanja said rumours that the economic empowerment programme was a propaganda attempt are untrue and the free motorbikes that they received are on the road.

‘Those who are spreading propaganda that these motorbikes were reclaimed after the economic empowerment event last week are being untruthful, as we have them on the road,’ they asserted.

Their sentiments were echoed by Thika Boda-boda Association vice chair, John Mugendi, who said the 30 boda-boda riders have the free motorbike fully registered as their own. Mugendi commended the initiative, urging the government to continue with the empowerment program because it provides job opportunities for many young people, thus keeping them off drugs and alcohol abuse.

Thika MP Alice Ng’ang’a, who championed the programme in the constituency, said more programmes will be launched to uplift the livelihoods of residents. Through the programme, several groups received sewing machines and pool tables, among other items.