Boda Boda riders in West Pokot County on Thursday, January 26, staged peaceful demonstrations demanding their payments for escorting William Ruto during his recent tour in the region.
West Pokot Boda Boda riders Chairperson Moses Loitasiwa told journalists that the riders were hired to escort the deputy president during his tour on Friday, January 21.
However, they said since they turned up in large numbers to not only escort the deputy president but also fill his campaign rally, the hustlers are yet to receive their share as promised.
The riders who demonstrated through Chepareria Town waving twigs and placards have since threatened to move to court to seek legal action should the presidential hopeful fails to fulfill his pledge.
“We welcomed the DP in every meeting he did in the four constituencies. We Boda Boda riders from Chepareria don’t want to be misused by politicians. We want the DP to tell those aspirants to give us our money,” Loitasiwa said.
Chepareria Boda Boda Deputy Chairperson Dennis Ripis explained that the riders majority of who are riding other people’s motorbikes did not work for the better part of the day as they were promised to be compensated for escorting the deputy president.
However, William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party has dismissed the claims by bodaboda riders saying the group is being used by Azimio la Umoja leaders to tarnish the name of the deputy president.
West Pokot UDA county youth leader Rajab Chumbus said the deputy president used a chopper hence no one was approached to escort William Ruto.
“No one gave them the job to escort the DP as he flew and didn’t use the vehicle which could be escorted. No one ate their money. They are playing politics,” he said.
Last month, UDA supporters in Makueni took to the streets protesting over unfulfilled KSh 2 million donations by the deputy president.
The hustlers accused directors and coordinators of the deputy president of shortchanging them.
“The deputy president donated that money to Boda Boda operators but it disappeared,” one of the protesters angrily said.
