Boda boda operators based in Kisumu town have raised an alarm over uncooperative customers who refuse to obey traffic rules. They say their efforts to adhere to traffic safety regulations are thwarted by uncaring customers who insist on 'taking short cuts'. Convincing clients to to put on protective helmets was a major challenge because most of said they were dirty.
“You can spend about 20 minutes just asking someone to put on a helmet, by they are stubborn for nothing yet most of us take time to clean this helmets”, said Stephen Otieno, a Boda Boda operator based in Kisumu Central Business district. A majority of the operators cited women as the most unwilling to wearing helmets.
“After operating for about two years, women do not care about their safety, their hair comes first. A majority have told me that the helmet will destroy their hair and make it dirty”, said Ouko Tom who operates in the Kisumu main bus stage. The operators also complained of customers who insist on that one boda boda carry two instead of one in order to save money.
The Boda Boda operators reiterated their commitment to observing safety regulations as a way of reducing road accidents in the area.