The Meru County Cooperative Department has kicked off empowerment training for the boda boda Sacco leaders in Imenti and Buuri sub counties.
Speaking during the training that took place at Kamundi hall in Meru town, the Cooperatives chief officer Catherine Kithinji said that the county government has partnered with Cooperative Bank Foundation to train all boda boda leaders from all Meru regions.
She noted that they had already carried out the training in Tigania and Igembe regions.
According to Kithinji, the training is targeting leaders of the county wide boda boda Saccos and seeks to educate them on basic ICT skills, insurance, the setting up and running of small businesses (income diversification), road regulations and motorbike maintenance.
“With the current economic situation, one needs to have various income sources to make ends meet and that is why we are training our boda boda riders on the other ways they can raise an extra income for themselves,” added Kithinji.
Kithinji further noted that with over 45 newly set-up countywide boda boda Saccos, the move creates an avenue to empower the rapidly-growing sector whilst enabling the sector’s self-reliance and regulation.
The boda boda Saccos are set to form a Meru boda boda Union, comprising the 45 Saccos from across all the wards.
She added that after the union is formed, Governor Kiraitu has promised to link it with partners to ensure that the sector is empowered in terms of money and knowledge.
Under Governor Kiraitu, the sector received Sh17M seed capital that will boost the riders’ savings once the boda boda union comes into effect.
Mr. Robert Otieno who carried out the training on behalf of the Cooperative Bank Foundation said that leadership is a crucial part of the Saccos and that is why leaders should be trained to later disseminate the message to their fellow riders at the ward level.
