WHAT EMPOWERMENT IS ALL ABOUT

Economic empowerment is thought to allow poor people to think beyond immediate daily survival and to exercise greater control over both their resources and life choices. For example, it enables households to make their own decisions around making investments in health and education, and taking risks in order to increase their income. Economic empowerment can also strengthen vulnerable groups’ participation in the decision-making-process in their community or country, by gradually building social and financial power.

KENYA: EMPOWERMENT ON THE MOVE

According to China Africa blog, the number of imported motorcycle in Kenya between 2007 and 2014 has risen from 16, 000 to 500,000 units, with imports expected to continue in higher pace. There has been an exponential growth of investment in motorcycles and related businesses, such as BodaBoda (i.e. motorcycle-taxi) as the sole way of Kenyans, all over the country, to earn and improve their livelihoods.

SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH. NATIONALLY.

Motorcycles have brought about a new age of easy transportation and more connectivity between rural and urbanized areas. That contributed to a significant increase in commuting efficiency and, in turn, to a significant economic growth through social-and-economical empowerment. Not only that, motorcycles also contribute to immense savings on the national level: the 15 million Kenyan adults that use motorcycles every day earn, on average, about KSH50. If you then multiply 15 million daily commuters, by an hour's worth of KSH50 and then by 30 days, you get a whopping KSH22.5 billion in savings. And that is just monthly! Multiply KSH22.5 billion by 12 months and you can see that motorcycles actually save the economy about KSH270 billion per year, just about 15% of the national budget!

HELPING THE YOUTH HELP ECONOMY.

Among the growing population of youths (scholars and non scholars) who are unable to find jobs in the cities, some turned back to their home towns, where making a living is considered easier. These youths aged 15 to 35, many of them school drop outs and young teenagers, have ventured into this area. They provide a huge independent labour force, which offers self employment.