Malindi 500 youth get driving school sponsorship

Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi. August, 21, 2023. [File, Standard]

An intensive driving school sponsorship program has been launched in Malindi Sub County, Kilifi County, targeting boda boda riders and instilling discipline on the road. 

At least 500 youth, including former criminal gang members and female riders, have been enrolled as the first beneficiaries of the program spearheaded by Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi in collaboration with Aziz Driving School. 

Speaking during the orientation event held at Buntwani waterfront park in Malindi town, stakeholders in the boda boda sector said that the courses will help many riders acquire driving skills and etiquette while on the road, adding that 70 per cent of local riders lacked driving licenses. 

“When people lack licenses, that’s when they cause accidents and cause chaos by burning vehicles on the road, hence promoting lawlessness,” said Mohamed Mbwana. 

Mr Mohamed Aziz, the director of Aziz Driving School, said that accidents involving boda boda riders have been on the rise due to poor training and lawlessness among the riders and that the driving curriculum should conform to the current needs of sensitization. 

“Our objective is to change the perception of a driving school where people just join to get driving licenses, but we also want to sensitize the riders on how they should behave while on the road,” said Mohamed. 

Mnyazi, who was accompanied by Kilifi Women Representative Gertrude Mbeyu said that she started the initiative since many boda boda riders were being arrested by traffic police officers for lack of driving licenses and poor knowledge of road signs and required riding gear. 

“Most times, I get calls that boda boda riders have been arrested, and I have to bail them out. It has reached a point that I have to come up with initiatives to help them be law-abiding,” she said.