Stories from the Ground - Conversations with Fellow Riders and Drivers in Kenya
June 2024 is a month that etched itself into the records of Kenya's history. The air has been thick with a collective yearning for change for a long time now around the county, as citizens from all walks of life took to the streets, voicing their discontent with President William Ruto's administration. As a couple passionate about the open road, we found ourselves not just navigating the highways and off-road routes of our beloved country, but also the intense currents of a nation undergoing changes and a necessary transformation. Our journeys during this period were filled with encounters with fellow drivers and riders, each with a story that mirrored the larger narrative of a populace grappling with economic strain and a thirst for justice. One such encounter was with James, a boda boda rider hailing from Kisumu, living and working in Nairobi. His eyes, usually alight with the thrill of the ride, now bore the weight of worry. "The proposed tax hikes," he confided, ...