For many years, motorcycle taxi, commonly known as boda boda operators have always carried a heavy stigma in society. They have often been associated with crime, defilement, sexual and gender-based violence, and the exploitation of young girls. In Homa Bay town, parents and local authorities have openly blamed them for the high number of teenage pregnancy cases, school dropouts, and unsafe abortions. Some families were left broken after girls were ferried to quack doctors or supplied with unsafe abortion drugs through the same transport system meant to help people move.
This painful reality stood in sharp contrast to the sector’s importance. For nearly two decades, motorcycle taxis have provided a livelihood to several families and become a critical means of mobility in remote villages. Yet in its shadow lay fear, anger, and distrust, especially where young girls were concerned.
A 2019 study by the National Crime Research Center showed crimes linked to the sector including rape, defilement, and drug trafficking, reinforcing public suspicion and fear.
In Homa Bay County, the situation was even more worrying. Riders were known for luring schoolgirls with cheap or free rides, sometimes demanding sex instead of fare. Girls from extremely poor families, unable to raise Ksh 50, were especially vulnerable. Some riders also played a role in unsafe abortions, knowingly or unknowingly, ferrying women and girls to unqualified providers.
But this story is changing.
Alarmed by the growing concerns over the soaring numbers of teenage pregnancies and unsafe abortions, where their involvement was glaring, the group started embracing sensitization sessions provided by various stakeholders, including Ipas Africa Alliance. As a result, motorcycle taxi riders in parts of Homa Bay began to engage in honest conversations about child protection, sexual and gender-based violence, and unsafe abortion.
Kevin Abong’o, mwendeshaji teksi wa pikipiki tangu 2008 na mwenyekiti wa Wagon Stage katika mji wa Homa Bay, ameshuhudia mabadiliko haya moja kwa moja. Anaongoza kundi la waendeshaji teksi zaidi ya 51 wanaofanya kazi kutoka mojawapo ya vituo vya teksi vya pikipiki vyenye shughuli nyingi zaidi mjini. Leo, kituo hicho kimekuwa kitovu cha mazungumzo, kujidhibiti, na uwajibikaji.
“Kwa miaka mingi, baadhi ya wanawake na wasichana wadogo walitutumia kama watumishi wao ili kutambua watu ambao wangeweza kuwasaidia kutoa mimba,” Kevin anakiri. “Baadhi ya wanachama wetu pia waliwapa mimba wasichana wadogo.”
Mikutano ya waendeshaji wa teksi za pikipiki, ambayo hapo awali haikuwahi kusikika, sasa ni ya kawaida. Waendeshaji wa pikipiki hujadiliana walichojifunza na kukumbushana wajibu wao wa kulinda na kutotumia vibaya jamii.
Kevin anakumbuka tukio ambalo bado linamsumbua. Bila kujua alimpeleka mwanamke kwa daktari bandia ili kutoa mimba yake. Mwanamke huyo alipata matatizo makubwa na kupoteza damu nyingi kabla ya kukimbizwa hospitalini.
“Tukio hilo lilinibadilisha,” anasema. “Baada ya mafunzo tuliyopokea, najua jambo kama hilo haliwezi kutokea tena.”
Uhamasishaji huo umehusisha kuwafunza viongozi kwanza, ambao baadaye walipewa jukumu la kusambaza maarifa hayo kwa wanachama wao.
Polepole, mitazamo ilianza kubadilika. Waendeshaji walianza kukataa kuwasafirisha wanawake hadi kwenye maeneo yasiyo salama ya utoaji mimba. Badala yake, walianza kuwaelekeza kwenye hospitali za umma na za kibinafsi zenye wataalamu wa afya waliohitimu. Mazungumzo ambayo hapo awali yalihusu pesa za haraka yalianza kujumuisha uwajibikaji na ulinzi wa jamii.
Kevin anakubali kwamba hapo awali, baadhi ya waendeshaji wa magari walidai ngono badala ya pesa, hasa kutoka kwa wasichana wa shule. “Wazazi waliwaonya watoto wao dhidi yetu,” anasema. “Waliogopa.”
Leo, anasema kwamba hofu inapungua. Waendeshaji wa magari katika Jukwaa la Wagon wamekubaliana kuhusu sheria kali. Mwanachama yeyote atakayepatikana akiwatongoza au kuwanyanyasa wasichana wadogo anakabiliwa na hatua za haraka, ikiwa ni pamoja na kukamatwa na raia na kukabidhiwa kwa polisi.
“Hatuchukulii hili kirahisi,” anasema Kevin Onyango, mpanda farasi mwingine jukwaani. “Tuna wajibu wa kuwalinda wasichana na wanawake wetu.”
Kwa Onyango, mikutano ya uhamasishaji ilibadilisha jinsi anavyoona utoaji mimba na mimba za utotoni. Sasa anajiona kama sehemu ya suluhisho. Waendeshaji wanahimizwa kuzungumza na abiria wao, wakiwashauri kutafuta huduma sahihi za matibabu na kuepuka vitendo visivyo salama.
“Tunaamini tumevuka sura hiyo,” anasema. “Hatutaki kurudi nyuma.”
Mabadiliko kama hayo yanatokea nje ya mji wa Homa Bay. Moses Orwa, mpanda farasi kutoka Kikundi cha Vijana cha Stage Miwa, anasema kikundi chake kimekuwa makini zaidi, hasa wakati wa kusafirisha wanawake na wasichana wanaotafuta huduma za afya ya ngono na uzazi.
“Lengo letu ni kuhimiza desturi salama ambazo zinaweza kulinda jamii yetu na wasichana. Hatuwezi kufumbia macho matatizo yanayotokana na utoaji mimba usio salama na mimba za utotoni,” anaelezea.
Katika kituo chao, waendeshaji pia wamepitisha mijadala ili kujihamasisha wao wenyewe na waendeshaji wengine dhidi ya maovu kama vile unajisi na ubakaji.
Matokeo ya juhudi hizi yanaanza kuonekana. Waendeshaji zaidi wanasafirisha wanawake na wasichana hospitalini badala ya wasafiri wasio na ujuzi. Wanajamii wanaripoti visa vichache vya wasichana kuvutiwa na usafiri wa bure. Wazazi wanapata imani polepole katika sekta hiyo, hasa pale ambapo waendeshaji wanajulikana kuwa sehemu ya vikundi vilivyohamasishwa.
Mabadiliko haya ya ndani yanatokea dhidi ya msingi wa mgogoro wa kitaifa. Kulingana na utafiti wa Wizara ya Afya uliotolewa Aprili 2025, zaidi ya utoaji mimba 790,000 ulitokea nchini Kenya mwaka wa 2023, na kumaanisha kiwango cha utoaji mimba cha takriban 57.3 kwa kila wanawake 1,000 walio katika umri wa kuzaa. Zaidi ya nusu ya wanawake walio na matatizo baada ya kutoa mimba walitibiwa katika vituo vya afya vya umma, na kuonyesha ukubwa wa tatizo hilo na mzigo uliopo kwenye mfumo wa afya. Utafiti huo unapendekeza kuimarisha huduma za uzazi wa mpango na kuboresha upatikanaji wa huduma bora baada ya kutoa mimba, hasa kwa vijana na wanawake vijana.
Huko Homa Bay, waendeshaji teksi za pikipiki wanaonyesha kwamba mabadiliko hayatokani na sera au vituo vya afya pekee. Pia yanaweza kutoka kwa watendaji wasiotarajiwa kuchagua kukabiliana na jukumu lao katika tatizo na kutenda tofauti. Kwa kugeuka kutoka kwa wahalifu na watazamaji na kuwa walinzi na watetezi, waendeshaji wanasaidia kupunguza mimba za utotoni na utoaji mimba usio salama.
Jamii zinaposhirikishwa kwa uaminifu, hata vikundi vinavyoonekana kama sehemu ya tatizo vinaweza kuwa mawakala wenye nguvu wa mabadiliko. Kwa waendeshaji wa teksi za pikipiki, njia ya kuelekea ukombozi haikuwa rahisi, lakini inathibitisha kwamba mabadiliko yanawezekana, na kwamba kuokoa maisha wakati mwingine huanza kwa kuchagua mwelekeo sahihi.