A pundit critic

I will never be lost, for I am a seed sown from Rangiātea ~ Wisdom of the Maori

[A pundit critic @Morara_F]

@MihrThakar All we are asking for is functional public transport. Boda bodas are a symptom of our poor public services and desperate economic situation.

[Mihr Thakar @MihrThakar]

Lending money to someone to start a boda boda business carries unique risks.

1. The informal nature of the business means that paperwork is limited.

2. Income is erratic while payments need to be regular.

3. Lack of financial literacy can lead to sub-optimal decisions

[LANDLORD🇰🇪 @bozgabi]

Algorithm ikikufikisha hapa piga RETWEET to pay tributes to our fallen Comrades🕊️

[A pundit critic @Morara_F]

@MihrThakar The worst wife ever.

[Mihr Thakar @MihrThakar]

A very interesting story from the Daily Nation.

A husband reported his boda boda stolen. Months later, he had a quarrel with the wife and she went to report that the hubby had buried the bike in a shallow grave behind his house, in order to swindle his creditors.

Fake thefts are a grey area in law. The authorities are not prosecuting it with the same vigour. This has allowed some people to think that they can get away with it.

The result of these fake thefts is that the authorities are also treating genuine victims with less urgency: longer verification processes, stricter requirements, and in some cases, delayed assistance.

Boda boda theft has become really sophisticated and highly technical.

There is a case in the same newspaper story, where Watu's recovery team found a stolen bike with the number plate, chassis and engine numbers of a FULLY PAID bike belonging to another client in Mombasa. The strange thing is that the other client with the original bike still had it!

Coordinated theft networks are using various means to get away with these crimes: alterations, dismantling for parts and cross-border smuggling are the most common.

Fraud ultimately hurts genuine riders looking for straightforward income-generating opportunities. Increased scrutiny, stricter entry barriers and reduced trust across the ecosystem can negatively impact momentum in the sector.

The fight AGAINST boda boda theft networks is a fight FOR millions of livelihoods. This is an industry that is giving SO MANY jobless youth a chance at self-employment. Fraud is the biggest risk to this economic mobility journey.

[A pundit critic @Morara_F]

@MihrThakar The secret to wealth is just hard work. Keep working even when you fail. That's how i have a small shop and a small job.

[Mihr Thakar @MihrThakar]

The Henley & Partners Africa Wealth Report notes, Kenya has 6,800 USD millionaires managing roughly USD 90 billion in assets. Much of this wealth is held by first-generation founders and wealth creators.

But are the frameworks needed to transfer it built strongly enough?...🧵

[A pundit critic @Morara_F]

@MihrThakar People are sleeping hungry because their bikes are stolen bro

[Mihr Thakar @MihrThakar]

When a boda boda theft is reported, the authorities need to act without fear or favour.

As per Daily Nation, resistance is mobilised against recovery of stolen bikes.

Protect the boda boda business. The law is the shield.

[A pundit critic @Morara_F]

@MihrThakar I would not wish this business on even my worst enemy. Instead of seeing the thieves as thieves, we were fed stereotype that boda boda guys are goons.

[Mihr Thakar @MihrThakar]

The booming boda boda industry was enabled by its financiers.

These financiers decided they want to do what traditional banks refused to do - and lend to the youth.

Now rampant boda boda theft & lack of urgency from the authorities is putting livelihoods & credit access at risk

[A pundit critic @Morara_F]

@MihrThakar Can eTIMS help formalise this sector?

[Mihr Thakar @MihrThakar]

Who would you lend money to a young adult, straight out of high school, with only KCSE grades to his name?

Traditional commercial banks completely ignored informal youth, viewing them as unbankable due to a lack of collateral.

But Kenya has SO MANY YOUNGSTERS... 🧵

[A pundit critic @Morara_F]

@MihrThakar Spare parts dealers kwanza. Those guys make some sweet money.

[Mihr Thakar @MihrThakar]

The boda boda sector is the second largest employer in the country. Boda boda loans give young people a chance to own their VERY OWN machine.

5 million+ livelihoods are supported by this industry.

Now, rampant boda boda theft is threatening it all. Stronger action needed ASAP.

[A pundit critic @Morara_F]

@aziz_mire Kenyan employees are experts at sweet talking their way out of mistakes

[Aziz Mire @aziz_mire]

Don't give second chances to people who have done you dirty.

They may apologise or even refund your money stolen but character flaws are permanent.

In business, you make decisions with limited information. When you have solid information like this, you cannot ignore.

[A pundit critic @Morara_F]

@ivymuthe 😂😂

[A pundit critic @Morara_F]

@MihrThakar Honest security officers can make a difference. Some of them just need to spill the beans.

[Mihr Thakar @MihrThakar]

Security officers at the Illasit border are saying that bikes stolen from Kenya are operating freely on the Tanzanian side of the border.

Total injustice to the ~2 million bikes operating legally in Kenya.

Tanzania and Kenya police need to work together to stop this ASAP.