In Nakuru, we have cabs, but we prefer bodaboda
Boda bodas with umbrella's navigate Kenyatta avenue in Nakuru city on September 17, 2023.
As night falls in Nakuru city, there exists a dynamic and fascinating narrative around the 24 hour hustle of bodaboda riders and bikes
The bustling of matatus and its vibrant chatter goes silent once 10pm strikes. However the streets become alive with the persistent engines of bodaboda and bicycle activity.
Arriving in Nakuru for a first time person, will find him or her caught in a transport dilemma once the clock strikes 10pm, as the option of a matatu won’t be in his choice list. Instead, the famous motorbike bodaboda or bicycle will be available.
Read: Here to stay: The resilience of Nakuru's bicycle boda bodas
He or she will be reluctant but eventually surrender to hop on the back of the two wheels and that’s how they will experience an unexpected introduction to the city’s late night hour’s charm.
Boda boda riders wait for passengers at a stage in Satellite estate at night on January 30, 2024.
Jared Mayuku, a night bodaboda rider says, “With the matatu leaving the stage at 10pm, the streets become our domain. One has no option and therefore the demand surges, and with it the earnings.”
Also Read: Nakuru's night life: Businesses that thrive in the cover of darkness
According to Mr Mayuku, the clear void left by the muted matatus during the night translates into a lucrative opportunity for them to slightly hike the price compared to daytime.
Mr Mayuku discloses, “The bodaboda in general becomes a trusted wheel for a diverse clientele. As our first clients are workers, stepping out of their offices, eager to reach the comfort of their home.”
“Second are travelers that have clocked in from their destination, seeking a swift ride to their destination. And lastly are drunkard revelers emerging from the clubs.”
Mr Mayuku notes that as much as the bicycles came in as competition to them with their cheap prices, a good number of people are willing to pay for motorbikes, owing to their most advanced comfort and speed.
Related: The incredible journey of Nakuru's transport sector
Mr Jonah Njenga, a bicycle rider for over 20 years, seconds the sentiments of his two wheel counterpart as he only highlights, “The night brings a plentiful harvest for us , but the only difference with us is our price is constant both during daytime and at night.”
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