Discipline, hard work key in boda boda business

Nairobi; Kenya: The boda boda sector has been characterised by cut-throat competition and many riders have seen their businesses grind to a halt. But Geoffrey Keter from Bomet County has a different story.

Mr Keter told this writer what makes him tick. "My bike does not only pay my bills; it assures me of a brighter future," he says

The veteran rider says he earns an average of Sh1,000 for the six days of the week he operates. He has bought another bike, thanks to the profits from his boda boda business. This is how he makes it.

He advises that before hitting the road, a budding operator must master riding to stay safe as well as build client confidence. "With stiff competition and incessant mishaps, commuters choose operators based on track records," Keter warns.

He delights in the fact that may clients have his contacts and he rarely lacks passengers, adding that maintaining a strong work ethic has paid off. Keter wakes up at 6am to rush people to work. He gets home at 10pm.

"Unlike my peers, I never overcharge my clients when I carry them during odd hours on backstreets and some of them gladly give me a tip above the normal fare," he boasts. He also maintains a business relationship with customers unlike some of his competitors whose businesses have suffered, thanks to intimate liaisons with female clients. "They spend the little they have on women and give them free rides," he says laughing.

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His last piece of advice is that the motorbike must be serviced once a week. Keter's dreams are no doubt valid. Currently, he has trained his sights on acquiring a piece of land to pursue another dream - farming.