A section of bodaboda operators from Mavoko Sub-County have lauded Machakos Senator Johnston Muthama, for backing them in agitating for what they termed as their constitutional rights.
Speaking at Kasuitu Slum in Athi River on Thursday when they went to help retrieve the body of their colleague who had drowned in River Athi, the operators said Muthama made the county government stop charging them monthly fees for stickers for their motorbikes.
"We the bodaboda operators from Mavoko Sub-County are fully behind Senator Muthama for supporting us agitate for our fundamental rights when Machakos Government wanted to oppress us," said their spokesperson, Consolata Okoth.
Okoth who led her colleagues to the scene disclosed that they seized remitting Sh200 monthly for their motorbikes stickers early last year after the county government wanted to raise the fee to Sh300.
"We protested when the county government of Machakos increased the levy charged for stickers by Sh100. How can we get the additional charge if majority of us could not even pay the Sh200," said Okoth.
John Chege, an operator from Mlolongo Town said most of them were not keen on the current politics in Ukambani that has seen various political leaders take different stands and sides in certain issues.
Chege said as youth who were focused but struggling to make ends meet, they did not have time to take sides in politics he termed as retrogressive and premature.
Joseph Mulei on his side said politicians were fond of using young people especially bodaboda operators as ladders to political offices only to damp them with intentions of picking them where they had left them whenever political seasons reach.
Odongo called on her colleagues to concentrate on their jobs but have Muthama in their minds as a servant leader given that he keeps fighting for the rights of the less fortunate in the society whenever need arises.