Business Daily (Nairobi)
Mwenda Wa Micheni
28 February 2008
A typical Kenyan wedding card either comes with a picture of a man and woman in their wedding costumes, doves, lilies or two conjoined wedding rings.
But when Boniface Mwangi's wedding invitation card came through, it embodied what many Kenyans are now turning to: motorcycling as an alternative mode of transport. This comes at a time when traffic jams have been growing longer as a result of growth in the population of vehicles and fuel costs continue on an upward trend.
"The bride must enjoy a ride on my bike on our wedding day among other surprises," says Mwangi who bought his 250 CC Honda sports motorbike in 2006. And this won't be the first motorbike ride for the lady who is getting married to Mwangi on March 8th.
"It is our love for bikes that brought us together," says Mwangi who near Ngong Road, one of the clogged roads that lead into the city.
"With my bike, I easily weave in and out through the traffic jams past hundreds of stuck cars; I also save a lot of money as fuel costs come down several folds. I don't have to worry about parking as the city council does not bother charging motorcycles. This is unlike cars that must pay to get space. Also important is the huge bonus I get in the thrill of cycling."
Just like Mwangi, many Kenyans are joining the motorcycle club. As you walk along most city streets, you will notice several motorbikes chained on posts while others are parked on shop verandahs.
In their end of year report, Car and General - a local company that deals with imported engines, motor vehicles and generators - returned an impressive profit growth of 45 per cent. This improved performance was attributed to among other things, the growth in demand for motorcycles in Kenya and Uganda. Between 1996 to September 2001, Uganda imported 73,788 motorcycles. Most of these are used in Kampala where they continue to control a big share of the public transport.
Globally, the demand for motorbikes continues to grow. According to a new 'Freedonia Industry Study', demand for motorcycles is on rise in the last five years. The report says that the growth is emanating from a mix of developed market improvements and the clear possibilities that have been spotted in the emerging markets. Further, the report projects that demand for all categories of motorcycles is expected to remain healthy, despite the anticipated slowdown in key markets.
In the US, the popularity of motorcycles has grown so fast that 24 per cent more units were sold in the past four years than in the entire previous decade (1990-1999).
"Sales are at an all-time-record high, all brands, all styles," John Wyckoff, a veteran industry consultant, tells American International Automobile Dealers. "It just took off like a flying goose."
According to the Freedonia report, the growth in the motorcycle segment is mainly as a result of rising fuel prices and increasing restrictions on car use."
As China and Japan develop faster, the population is slowly transitioning to motor vehicles. This means that there are several second hand motorbikes for disposal into the developing nations, something that has seen a flood of the motorbikes into the third world.
Worldwide, says the global report published online by reportlinker.com, the demand for motorbikes is going to soar even further with an expected rise of up to 5.4 per cent annually to 55.7 million units in 2011. Nairobi seems to be catching up with the rest of the world in this development. Gradually, cycling is becoming an alternative mode of transport after it peddled into the city after the stricter traffic rules that were enforced in 2002.
To bring sobriety to Kenyan roads, John Michuki, then in the Ministry of Transport and Communication, introduced rules that forced many unroadworthy vehicles out of business leaving a void in the sector. With an increase in fares, many more commuters jumped from the public buses. This gave some entrepreneurs an opportunity to venture into cycling as a business, consequently popularising it as a mode of transport in the city.
"I entered into the boda boda transport business in a bicycle," says Titus Mugata who currently operates a motorcycle boda boda at the Donholm/Industrial Area roundabout within the Eastlands area of Nairobi city.
But that was in Lumakada in Lugari in 1993 when boda boda was still attracting a lot of interest as a new mode of public transport. When Mugata moved into the city to look for saucier income, he first landed a lean job before returning to boda boda where he had he first begun. A few years later, the same man now stands besides his Captain motorcycle that has become his daily bread.
"Though more expensive when it comes to fuel and maintenance, I have no regrets for moving onto a motorcycle. It is faster, less tiring and even more preferred by my clients," he says.
The captain demands fuel that costs Sh300 everyday. With its flexibility in the traffic, the bike is able to attract more clients especially in the morning and in the evening when motor vehicles get stuck. This way, Mugata and his friends earn their daily bread faster.
Julius Otieno who also operates a commercial motor cycle in the same junction, says that some sales representatives from cycle dealers visit to pitch their brands at the junction.
"Clearly, they have now recognised our business. When we still peddled, I did not see any company come over," he muses.
Besides the sales representatives, advertisers have also seen motorcyclists operating from this junction as good advertising agents.
Inscribed on the cyclists' jackets are marketing slogans for Uchumi, Africa Air Rescue and even Nakumatt who were last year's second highest spenders on advertising in the country.
Rosy as it looks, there are thorny issues cropping out of this new mode of transport.
According to representatives of the 38 motorcycles running from this junction, other motorists, especially matatu operators are now mistreating them. "They are trying to push us out of traffic by hitting and harassing us," says Peter Onduso, who represents the motorcyclists.
Several kilometres on the other side of town is another group of motorcycle operators. This is off the Roysambu roundabout some metres off Thika Road.
Revving and ready to go to USIU where he is taking his client is one David Maingi. "I have to speed to ensure I do not spend more fuel than necessary," he says as he speeds off.
Where a small car consumes fuel of up to Sh100, the motorcycle only needs Sh50. Charges are Sh20 per kilometre. Where a motor vehicle taxi charges Sh500, the motorcyclist would ask for Sh250. And the speed on a motorcycle is 40 km per hour.
"We always prefer short-cuts and will not freeze on the traffic jam like cars; that's why we are a preferred choice especially in the morning and evenings," says Maingi.
From this base, the 14 cyclists who have been here for the last two years mostly serve Allsops, Muthaiga, USIU, Kahawa West, Kiambu, Kasarani and even Mwiki. For Maingi, just like others here, the demand for the service has been growing steadily in the past months.
In Kenya, a driving licence is mandatory for everyone wishing to ride a motorcycle.
As more Kenyans register an interest in motorcycling, driving schools are also registering a high number of riders coming to be inducted into cycling. Along Moi Avenue in the city centre are several driving schools. One of these is the Budget Driving School where Dominic Karanja manages the lessons.
"It used to be considered an insignificant course" says Karanja in reference to motorcycling. "Today, so many are coming. It has become one of the most popular products; probably because demand for riders has also become very high as opposed to driving that is now crowded."
In their Nairobi branches, Budget is instructing up to 20 riders every week.
The Moi Avenue branch of Glory Driving School has also registered a growing interest in motorcycling business.
The World Bank survey: Towards a safe, clean and affordable rural urban transport, present realities and recent trends suggest that growth in rural motor cycles will increase, something that will help rural transport.
Conducted by Paul Starkey who is a Consultant in rural transport, the survey suggests that businessmen could reap a lot if they invested in this mode of transport. He notes a common cycle in places where the mode of transport has been in use.
It starts as urban use (personal transport and taxis). This is followed by funding of small businesses to invest in urban or rural services. In many cases, the 'Rich' urban person buys a motorcycle and hires it to young operator for an agreed fee per day.
In most cases, capital is recovered within six months and bikes are replaced every six months, selling for half price. This profits younger operators who consequently make the service available to a critical mass.
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