On Wednesday, October 7, Deputy President William Ruto was left speechless after listening to a speech delivered by a businessman based in Kitengela, Kajiado County.
Speaking from DP Ruto's Karen residence, Peter Maina detailed how his boda boda business had spurred the growth of other business enterprises in his home town.
"My friend Maina you spoke like a professor. I am amazed by the understanding, knowledge and experience that you people have, I am amazed.
"I honestly have nothing to add to what you have just told us Peter. You have said it better than I can," the visibly impressed deputy president remarked.
During his time on the podium, Maina explained the intricacies of the boda boda business in detail, with examples on how it had transformed their lives for the better.
"We have tuk tuk and truck owners as well have landlords who all started out as boda boda operators. This business is a channel for the ordinary mwananchi that acts as a springboard towards realizing their dreams," he stated.
He went on to reiterate that the boda boda business does not encourage owners to rely solely on it for decades, but rather used to generate capital to fund other enterprises.
The entrepreneur also shared various success stories on how individuals in the area who started out as riders are now reaping from their other side hustles like running bars and rental houses.
"Once the rider has saved up enough and embarked on his next business venture, he vacates his boda boda seat for the next generation of young men looking to create something for themselves," Maina explained.
The budding entrepreneur was part of a delegation of Kitengela Market traders and boba boda riders who had been invited for a quorum at DP Ruto's residence.
Others present at the event were Nominated Senator Mary Seneta, Nominated MP David Ole Sankok, Women Representative for Narok County Soipan Tuya, Jubilee Party Deputy Secretary-General Caleb Kositany, Lang'ata legislator Nixon Korir and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungwah.
The DP has recently come under fire for his boda boda donations. His detractor claimed that the donations would leave his benefactors languishing in poverty.
On his part, DP Ruto maintained that the mindset of entrepreneurs such as Maina would form the pillar for future generations.
"I wish anyone criticising boda boda operators would listen to you. You speak 10 times better than they do. It is time we give a ladder to the man at the bottom so that we can all be climbing up together.
"It is not a must that the majority must be at the bottom of the pyramid, we can change that pyramid so that we change the status of every Kenyan," he remarked.
Watch Maina's rousing address below:
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