Seek information from duly registered unions – Botax Kenya Secretary General Wanyonyi urges Women In Transport

Botax Kenya secretary general Cynthia Wanyonyi PHOTO (FILE) 

BY PETER KOMBE

Kenya Boda Boda, Tuktuk and Taxi Workers Union top brass has asked Women In Transport to seek relevant information regarding the sector from duly registered union officials.

BOTAX Kenya secretary general Cynthia Wanyonyi says information is key in ensuring that they progress in the sector.

According to her, most women in the industry undergo a myriad of challenges thus making them dormant in the sector.

“Some of the women in this industry go through several challenges this include among others lack of legal documents such as DL security threat from organized groups in main stages,” she noted.

She says some women venturing into the sector due to security threats that surround them.

Wanyonyi cites lack of driving licenses, security threats and lack of identification documents.

“There is a gap in the policies. Something should be done. We are engaging the government to ensure that women in this sector can enjoy,” she noted.

She however says the union is working in conjunction with government to ensure that women acquire legal documents with ease.

She was speaking at Chamiachi hotel in Mombasa on Monday at a two days women in transport conference on Monday.

Alice Wahome a Tuktuk driver who has been in the industry for four years says cites unfavorable working conditions in the broader sector.

The driver who plies the Kwahola Migadini road says cites gender discrimination, lack of formal contracts and health insurance as some of the challenges in the sector.

“I have been in this industry for four years now. Unfortunately, we do not have any health insurance cover and no formal contracts, this is quite a big challenge,” Alice insisted.

Another source who spoke on condition of anonymity accused their counterparts’ men driver on claims of hurling insults on the road.

She accused the government on claims of laxity adding that there is need for the government to speed up the issuance of Tuktuk licenses.

“Our colleagues men are sometimes our enemies on the road. They pretend to own the road. This is too bad,” the source said.

The two days women in transport held at Chamiachi Hotel in Mombasa was organized by Flone Initiative.

The two day women in transport conference provided women working in public transportation with various skills in relation to their professional life: leadership, savings and finance.