Nairobi boda boda riders lose money in fake motorbike deal

About 500 boda boda riders in Nairobi have accused a credit company of duping them with an attractive deal before going underground.

The riders spoke out on after failing to reach the firm’s management. They said they were informed that the company’s office at International Life House was under renovation.

The riders said company agents promised them electric motorcycles in exchange for an upfront deposit, with repayment spread over two years.

 Speaking on behalf of the affected riders , Duncan Mashete, said the deal had two options: pay Sh15,000 and receive a motorbike within 10 days, or pay Sh11,000 and wait for about three months. Mashete said many riders paid the money to agents acting on behalf of the company but have since been taken in circles, with some cases dating back to last year.

 “They had initially signed people up to pay Sh255 per day. Now they are introducing a new requirement of Sh500 per day,” said Mashete. “They asked us to come and collect our money, but when we arrived, we found a notice saying the office was under renovation. There is clearly no renovation taking place.”

 Most riders said this is not the first time they have been defrauded by the same company.

 “They previously operated from Westlands and are still targeting more people. We are appealing to the government to help us recover our money and take action because this is not right,” the riders said.