“Boda-boda” driving, a form of motorcycle taxi service, has been a prominent industry in East Africa since the 1970s when drivers transported people across the Uganda-Kenya border on bicycles. In recent years, however, the industry has become a subject of intense public scrutiny, as several accidents and assaults have been increasingly connected to boda-boda drivers. Robbery, violence, drug trafficking and even murder claims have been connected with drivers, leading to protests and calls for regulation of the boda taxi industry. The public benefits boda-boda driving brings, including employment for thousands of young men and cheap transportation, especially to hospitals or voting booths, further complicate this issue.

Women and Boda-boda

Women have been excluded from the boda-boda industry since its invention, despite Kenya’s large strides towards gender equality over the past 50 years. Before 2022, there were few, if any, female boda drivers and women were subjected to numerous incidents of assault as passengers. Regardless of legal equality in the workforce, many barriers to entry still exist for female employment in Kenya. According to U.N. Women Africa, most women in Kenya work in the informal (home and agricultural labor) sector. At the same time, men receive higher wages and have more opportunities to participate in the formal economy than women.

Employment opportunities in Siaya County, the home of the Matibabu Foundation Hospital, are largely agricultural. This is especially true for women, who constitute anywhere from 30% to 80% of the agricultural labor force across sub-Saharan Africa and whose labor pays about one-tenth of what male boda drivers typically make in a year. Transportation is a major issue, as most women cannot afford the typical boda taxi fee to reach the hospital for health care services.

Boda Girls

Boda Girls, a cohort of Kenyan women who have trained to become boda drivers, offers a solution. As the first female driver entrepreneurship program, Boda Girls offers employment opportunities to women in addition to safe, free transportation and home care. Launched by the Matibabu Foundation Hospital and the Tiba Foundation in April 2022, the cohort has employed more than 50 female drivers, identifiable by their bright pink shirts and purple leather motorcycle seats.

In addition to training in road safety, Boda Girls learn self-defense to protect themselves and others in the case of unwarranted conduct, which they share with female students of nearby schools, according to The New York Times. Motorcycle upkeep and mechanical skills are also a part of the six-week training program.

Maternity Care

Boda Girls originated from the gap in female accessibility to hospitals, particularly for maternity care. Drivers provide free, safe transportation for women’s check-ups, even bringing portable ultrasounds in the case of complications. In the two years since its launch, the organization has now provided more than 6,000 free rides to hospitals for prenatal, family planning, and cancer screening services. Due to their services, Siaya County has experienced a 67% increase in hospital deliveries, a 100% increase in maternal clinics, and a 300% increase in cancer screenings, according to the Tiba Foundation.

After birth, Boda Girls also make home visits to follow up on postpartum care, planting a kitchen garden and avocado tree for future nutrition and profit opportunities for families.

School Girls

Boda Girls adopts schools to promote menstrual and sexual education for female students, as well as to distribute free sustainable menstrual kits. It also runs entrepreneurial clubs where girls can learn the fundamentals of business, and they promote high school graduation. In two years, Boda Girls has visited 84 schools and provided menstrual education and kits to more than 3,700 girls, according to its website.

Female Employment in Kenya

Female employment in Kenya is a cornerstone of the Boda Girls mission; they focus on widowers in particular, who often suffer from the loss of financial support. By facilitating entrepreneurship classes and group stress counseling, Boda Girls assists in dealing with grief in families and sponsoring female financial ventures. They also engage in micro-lending practices to boost entrepreneurship in Siaya County and have played a role in helping 118 women develop profitable small businesses and mentor others to do the same, according to The Tiba Foundation.

Boda Girls, launched by the Tiba and Matibabu foundations, has partnered with several other initiatives including the Red Pride Project and USAID’s Western Kenya Sanitation Project. “USAID aims to reach 500,000 women and girls with accurate information on proper menstrual hygiene management and reliable access to sanitary products in Western Kenya by 2027.”

Boda Girls’ ability to reach local schools and communities will play a major part in this goal, as it continues to recruit new driver cohorts and expand its range to a greater area of Siaya County.

Beyond simply providing transportation, Boda Girls works to inspire thousands of women and support female employment in Kenya and will continue to work towards gender inequality and access to essential services.

– Sadie Claps

Sadie is based in Seattle, WA, USA and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr