Setting up a boda boda business in Nairobi: challenges you are likely to encounter

One of the challenges you are likely to encounter while setting up a boda boda business in Nairobi is that of getting a ‘stage’ to operate from. You find that you can’t just go to any ‘stage’ and start picking passengers from there. Most of the boda boda stages in Nairobi have their 'owners', and for you to be allowed to operate from there, you have to go through a difficult process. But if you are willing to operate from a sub-optimal/less prime stage, then the process won’t be so grueling.

Another challenge you are likely to encounter while setting up a boda boda business in Nairobi is that of getting a trustworthy person to employ as a boda boda rider. You need a person who will give you a fair share of the earnings/the pre-agreed target amount without fail. You need a person who will take care of the boda boda motorcycle as if it was his own. And of course you need a person who won’t run away with your motorbike. It can be a challenge, but if you use your networks, especially your rural home networks or your estate networks, you can eventually find a trustworthy boda boda rider employee with good guarantors.

Yet another challenge you are likely to face while setting up a boda boda business in Nairobi is that of getting parking space for your boda boda. Unless you live in a house with your own compound where you can be parking your boda boda, you are likely to face quite a bit of a challenge in this area.