Malindi Bodaboda operators and vegetable vendors, famously known as Mama Mboga, have sued President William Ruto and the entire Kenya Kwanza government over fake promises.
The small traders say they have remained poor, for more than a year after Ruto ascended to power.
426 billion
Led by rights lobby Linda Jamii activist Fred Ogola, the Malindi Bodaboda riders staged a protest in Malindi, Kilifi County, on Thursday before filing the case, where they are demanding a whopping 426 billion shillings in compensation from the Kenya Kwanza government after tirelessly campaigning for William Ruto and other Kenya Kwanza politicians; however, they reaped nothing from Ruto’s government.
Addressing the media during the protest, Mr. Ogola said the Kenya Kwanza government has failed to improve the lives of Bodaboda riders and Mama mboga, thus plunging them into poverty even after using them during their 2022 political campaigns.
Ogola said human rights lobby Linda Jamii has already filed a case at the Malindi High Court against the Kenya Kwanza government and President William Ruto as the first and second respondents to the case, with Bodaboda riders and Mama mboga stating they have been deprived of their political and economic rights.
He said Bodaboda riders and Mama Mboga played significant roles in Kenya Kwanza’s political journey; thus, the parties deserve employment and economic uplift.
“We are not staging this protest because we want the president’s attention; no, we are suing President Ruto and his Kenya Kwanza government so that he ceases using our young men and women to climb the political power ladder again,” said Mr. Ogola.
The activist said President Ruto, despite hugely depending on Bodaboda riders and Mama Mboga who enabled him to sail to power during the August 2022 general elections, Ruto deliberately left them out of any government plans.
“If any party contributes heavily to the success of politicians, they must benefit from their success or failure to do so; the revenge will be so ugly in the coming years,” noted Ogola.
Change tactic
On his part, a community activist Karisa Fagio appealed to the youth in the Bodaboda sector and Mama Mboga to initiate income-generating activities and avoid being misused by politicians.
According to Mr Fagio, the politicians clearly understand what the women and youth are currently going through; that’s why they have choreographed a plan to use them during political campaigns but do away with them immediately after they sail to power.
“If we work on a tangible plan, no one will use our women and youth for their selfish political gains again,” noted Fagio.
