Nairobi’s boda boda riders have announced they will not participate in the planned June 25 protests, citing the economic toll of past demonstrations and calling for peace. The Boda Boda Safety Association of Kenya, representing thousands of motorcycle taxi operators, distanced itself from the opposition-led protests, emphasizing that their livelihoods depend on a stable and functional city.
The protests, scheduled for Wednesday, mark the first anniversary of the 2024 anti-Finance Bill demonstrations, which turned violent and led to fatalities. Opposition leaders, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Wiper Party’s Kalonzo Musyoka, have declared the day a symbolic public holiday in honor of the Gen Z protesters who died. While they insist the event will be peaceful, concerns over potential chaos persist.
In a statement on Friday, the Boda Boda Association rejected the calls for protests, arguing that past unrest had left riders injured, bikes destroyed, and families struggling. “One day of riots is one day of hunger in our homes. When roads are blocked, we don’t earn,” the statement read. The group described riders as “hustlers” focused on survival, not political manipulation.
The association highlighted the essential role boda bodas play in Nairobi’s economy, transporting goods and people daily. Many riders start work before dawn to repay loans and support their families. “We ride for peace, dignity, and survival not destruction,” the statement added.
Their stance reflects growing frustration among workers whose incomes are disrupted by protests. While activists frame June 25 as a day of remembrance, the boda boda riders’ decision underscores the tension between political activism and economic survival. As the date approaches, their message is clear: peace and normalcy must prevail for Kenya’s informal workforce to thrive.
