Nairobi; Kenya: The proliferation of cheap motorcycles in Kenya has seen many young people engage in the taxi business colloquially known as boda boda. And caution is being thrown to the wind, considering the breakneck speed with which the riders zoom by, disregarding every traffic rule.
Eager to own one, Peter, 40, began looking for someone selling a machine cheaply but a good model that could not fall apart as soon as it hit the rough roads.
He needed one that was ‘acclimatised’ to Kenyan roads.
On checking a local online bazaar, he saw an advert for what looked like a relatively new bike.
The owner lived not far from his home and was willing to negotiate the price with a potential buyer.
From the picture posted on the site, the motorbike looked like a Japanese model.
It was similar to the ones used by Kenya Power staff to ride around rough villages paths; exactly what Peter was looking for.
His intuition informed him it was a Suzuki and when he called, a friendly male voice answered and employed the gab of a seasoned salesman.
The persuasiveness of the seller had Peter agreeing to a meeting to sample the machine.
Even before he saw it, he was already approximating his daily income once he acquired the precious asset.
Peter was taken aback when the selling price was quoted as Sh100,000. It had a high engine capacity. Peter simply whistled and was ready to let the deal go unless the price came down.
After some negotiation, the seller came down to Sh75,000 but Peter could not afford that either.
It finally came down to Sh55,000 as the seller said he was in need of finances to address an emergency.
Peter agreed to the deal and they finalised the transfer of ownership the next day before two witnesses.
He soon became the envy of many as his motorbike stood out from the rest in the village.
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Its powerful engine amazed everyone. A few days later, Peter rode his motorbike to Nakuru town and parked it in front of a supermarket. It was while coming out laden with purchases that he got the shock of his life. There were two mean-looking policemen and a well-dressed man standing next to his motorbike.
“Is this your motorbike?” a policeman asked him grimly.
“Yes,” said Peter, ready to insert the key in the ignition.
He was ordered to ride to the Central Police Station with a policeman firmly on the pillion to ensure he complied.
It was here that he knew the classic motorbike had been stolen and a tracking gadget had led to his nabbing. A forlorn Peter went back to the village without his bike.
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