By Michael Oduor
Over 6,000 Boda-boda riders in Taita Taveta County have been urged to register their association with available Deposit Taking (DT) Saccos in a bid to increase their chances of development through the various loan services provided to members by these co-operative societies.
Speaking to Sacco Review, on phone, Taita Taveta Boda-boda Riders Association chairman Mr. Mohammed Dudu reiterated that the association by 2020 had registered 6,000 members across the County.
Dudu urged all the members to join Saccos of their choices which he said would bring a number of benefits to them in terms of financial aid where they can save and take loans to better their lives, adding that they can also get motorbikes on loan and pay in installments for an agreed period of time.
“There are a lot of benefits for the members who join Saccos and associations. For example, one can be given a personal motorbike to pay in installments for a period of time or even get money start a business,” he said.
According to Dudu, all Boda-boda riders must register with the association to enjoy the benefits as is required by the NTSA Act 33 of 2012. He also reminded members of the association that they would enjoy work with minimum disturbance by the authorities as they only registers members with licenses and those who are qualified to carry passengers. He further noted that, among other benefits of registering in the association is that a member can get financial support in the unfortunate event of an accident, adding that, members would be issued with medical covers.
“The family can also be given financial support if a Boda-boda rider is registered in our association to start a business,” he added.
He further said that members in the association enjoy the lowest interest paid on motorbikes taken on loan as compared to those taking them on loan without being registered in the Boda-boda Association.
“Taita Taveta Boda-boda riders under the Boda-boda Association of Kenya (BAK) umbrella, we have agreed to give motorbikes to the members on loans with the lowest interests in history of the Boda boda Riders Association in the country,” said Dudu.
Members in the association who obtained their motorbikes through loans were also encouraged to maintain financial discipline and continue paying for their motorbikes as agreed with the respective organizations so that they may avoid the risks of losing ownership of the motorbikes.
“Those who got their motorbikes through loans are encouraged to pay back as agreed so that they may not lose the ownership of their motorbikes due to failure of paying loans,” he said.
