Likoni Member of Parliament Hon. Mishi Juma Mboko has initiated a youth empowerment programme targeting bodaboda and young drivers for free training on road safety measures and driving lessons to reduce rising cases of road carnage in the industry.
The initiative which include the issuance of driving licenses after trainees concluded the driving classes has seen at least 250 youths benefit from the programme in partnership with Budget Driving school.
Speaking during the official launch of the program held at the in Likoni CDF offices on Saturday 22, this month Hon. MISHI said her office-the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF) had set aside adequate funds for the exercise.
She said the beneficiaries of this pilot programme was given 15,000 shilling to cater for their driving lessons.
“The programme’s objective was to uplift socio-economic status of the youth across the sub-county thus transforming the industry that is envisaged to reduce the big number of accidents caused by the motor bike and tuktuk drivers..
In the ceremony she also presided the graduation ceremony of 200 other youths who had completed a 2-month free computer literacy training
She noted that the course would last only for three months hence urging the drivers after the period is over one should ensure that they took care of their licenses to avoid being harassed by police. In addition Mishi said the program was targeting to benefit 4,000 Youth from across the 5 Wards in Likoni.
A few months ago, the government and Stakeholders in the transport sector rolled out a road safety program aimed at enhancing the skills of boda boda riders both licensed and unlicensed.
The program which was launched in 3 counties of Machakos, Kajiado and Kiambu is targeting 1.4 million riders countrywide who were to undergo training that will help the riders when they are executing their job in the transport sector.
During the official launch held at the Ndumberi stadium in Kiambu County, the Cabinet Secretary for ICT, Innovation and Youth affairs Mr. Joe Mucheru said Over 90 percent of the traffic crashes in Kenya were attributed to human crashes and human error related factors that can be addressed promptly after the riders were trained and empowered with the necessary skills.
The Nationwide boda-boda program specifically aims at inculcating discipline, national values, and mindset change among boda boda riders while enhancing the rider’s skills and competencies.
Mr. Mucheru noted that the training would also increase the rider’s entrepreneurial skills and also assist them to appreciate their role in road safety.
Mr Joseph Baraza a regional manager at Rocky Driving School said that they had received more than 300 students. He said that among the issues they addressed in the training were discipline and obedience to traffic laws and Highway Code. “The members were educated on basics of maintenance of their vehicles, road courtesy and also equipped with first aid skills”, he said.
He further added that they had two categories of training which include B1 light which are both favorable for manual and automatic vehicles while B is only for automatic cars. He reminded the beneficiaries that the licenses would expire after one year and thereafter one can apply for a smart driving license for only 3,050 shillings and 650 shillings for Uber endowment driving license.
Talking to Suleiman Bakari, a beneficiary from the training program, he thanked the area MP for supporting them in such a programme and situation since most could not afford to pay for themselves.
The event was graced by several MCAs including Juma Manuari MCA Bofu Ward, Hamisi Mbaya MCA Timbwani ward, Nusura Mwinyi Kimuswa MCA Mtongwe ward, Pamela Ojala nominated MCA, Shuhudia Abdallah nominated MCA among many other county officials.
Written By: Peter Maseke.