A motorcycle mobile application emphasizing the safety of women and children was launched on 29th July 2022 in Nairobi Kenya.
With the mantra “Ride Bila Stress”, the application “KINGA” (Swahili for protect) is the first transport application that incorporates not only trust but also verified safe spaces for women and children in Kenya.
The launch of KINGA also knowns as smartboda brought together riders from Kilimani Bodaboda Sacco who are the first cohort of riders to graduate from the Smart Boda Dynamic Training programme on Gender Based Violence and Child protection.
Organized by DataLock Ltd and Gender Violence Recovery Center, the event was aimed at sensitizing the bodaboda riders on GBV and child protection and to establish a working partnership with Bodaboda SACCO on practical ways to create safe spaces for women and children. Speaking during the event, the Director of Operations at Data Lock Ltd Mr. Vince Sila, said KINGA promotes better working conditions for riders by building trust tech solutions and partnerships to enhance their business and way of life.
“Through KINGA, we are establishing a network of boda boda champions who shall collaborate closely with GBV sector partners to promote peaceful co- existence and zero tolerance to GBV in their communities and to disseminate key EGBV messages among Bodaboda riders in collaboration with both state and non state actors.” said Mr. Vince.
Data Lock Ltd is a software solutions provider firm based in Nairobi Kenya specializing in unique identification solutions based on iris and NFC technologies. It was formed in 2019 to provide cutting edge IT and Security solutions to meet the ever pressing needs of clients. The founder members are all IT experts with years of experience in developing IT solutions for various industries. Data Lock Ltd not only develops software and security solutions, but carries out after sales services and consulting to ensure that clients receive the best IT solutions in the market.
Global Peace Foundation Kenya CEO Daniel Juma attended the launch which also included Mr. Mike Mutungi from I Choose Life -Africa, Ms. Wangu Kanja from Wangu Kanja Foundation and officials from the Gender Violence Recovery Centre , Legal Resources Foundation, Helmet Lazima, Health Care Systems Kenya amnongst others. “The boda boda industry is here to stay and its upto to you riders to protect the integrity of the sector by making it safe for our women and children to ride on your motorcycles” said Mr. Juma who also called on the riders to help keep the peace during the upcoming elections in Kenya.
Approximately 2 million motorcycles are registered in Kenya, the majority of which are used as boda bodas or taxis according to government statistics. Further almost 20,000 new motorcycles are registered every month putting more scrutiny on the sector which is poorly regulated.
Boda-boda drivers, are notorious for breaking traffic laws and attacking motorists involved in accidents with one of their own. They have also been accused of harassing other road users, as well as abuse, including rape. However, with the launch of Kinga App, these public misconceptions about Bodaboda will remain history since another aim of this smartboda is to give the industry a good name.
Previous data from the Motorcycle Assembly Association of Kenya showed that the sector generated an estimated Sh400 million daily and directly and indirectly employs over 500,000 Kenyans and some 14.4 million people use this mode of transport every day.
