Bodaboda riders clashed at an event headed by President William Ruto on Monday, June 26, over leadership wrangles within different associations.
The fallout stemmed from Thomas Lesatin's speech during the launch of Boda Boda Care at Kenyatta International Conference Centre(KICC).
Lesatin, who introduced himself as the Chairman of the Bodaboda Association of Kenya, claimed that the association had not been given an opportunity to allow its members to attend the event adding that those present were from the previous regime.
Additionally, he stated that previous leaders ought to have stepped down from power but instead, they used unscrupulous means to get close to the Head of State and receive favours.
Below is the video:
“The bodaboda leaders who were chosen by the previous administration that are here today are not bodaboda leaders. I am the national chairman of the Bodaboda Association of Kenya.
“Those who have spoken here are only doing so because they have cartels who are pushing for them to get close to you (Ruto),” he instigated.
Immediately, other bodaboda riders in the crowd began jeering at Lesatin forcing him to stop his speech because he was inaudible.
The Master of Ceremony (MC), Michael Gitonga, was forced to intervene and asked Lesatin to wind up his speech.
“I am asking you (the crowd) to kindly settle down. Please just finish up your speech (to Lesatin),” he whispered to the association leader.
Lesatin then quickly ended his speech stating that the Bodaboda Association of Kenya would invite the President for a special meeting because they did not get the chance to attend the event.
He added that they supported Ruto during his presidential campaign and, therefore, deserved equal treatment.
“We stood with you (Ruto) and out of respect because we did not get a chance to bring our people to this event, we invite the President for another meeting because we fought for this government,” added Lesatin.
Ken Onyango, the Chairman of the Bodaboda Association Nairobi County, made reference to the matter in his speech stating that it was important for all the leaders to take part in the event.
"All these bodaboda leaders present know each other. There are so many other leaders who are out there who have not been involved in this event. Next time we want them to be included," he stated.
Speaking at the launch, Ruto reiterated his commitment to support the bodaboda sector adding that he had already spent millions of his own money to boost the businessmen.
"I have used about Ksh250 million of my own money as a contribution in fundraisers organised by bodaboda operators. This means that this is an important matter to me," the Head of State noted.
