Thika Youth Take Home Motorbikes Worth Sh. 650,000 After Winning A 25km Cycling Race.

Five winners of brand new Yamaha motorcycles from Toyota Kenya sit on their new treasures at Starehe Grounds Thika. Inset: thika MP Alice Ng'ang'a flags off the riders along Kenyatta Highway for the 25km inaugural Thika Town Constituency Bodaboda race.

George Kibe Wainaina from Majengo Estate beat a field of about 500 cyclists to emerge the winner of the inaugural Thika Town Constituency Bodaboda race that started and ended Starehe Grounds on Saturday and organised by area MP Alice Wambui Ng’ang’a.

The father of one, who plies his trade at U-shop Thika, clocked 45 minutes after a grueling and ultimately compelling 25km race to beat his closest challenger Samuel Kimani who clicked 49 minutes.

John Mwangi was third with 52 minutes followed by Eric Munywoki and Joseph Kihara respectively.

At around 2pm, Starehe Grounds, popularly known as “Butuu” erupted into jubilation as the five young men each received a brand new Yamaha motorcycle from Toyota Kenya worth Ksh. 130,000 thanks Hon. Alice Ng’ang’a.

Speaking after the race, the MP acknowledged the use of sports as part of youth empowerment and as a tool for achieving development goals. She pointed out that the race would be an annual event with an aim of tapping and nurturing talents amongst the local youth. She promised to ensure that each of the five winners was trained as a rider and eventually got their driving licences.

In the same event, 100 motorcycle riders received their driving licences after undergoing a driving course funded by the MP, bringing to 1,500, the total number of bodaboda riders who have benefitted from this programme since she assumed office in 2013.

“This event is an eye opener for us to plan a better one next year. I am overjoyed to be part of this initiative and to be the one assisting some of you to rise from one glory to another. However, I want to assure all of you who participated that you are all winners and there is always a tomorrow,” said the MP.

George Kibe, acknowledged that his win was a life changer as the machine would ease his work and increase his income.

“Let me admit that it would have taken me ages to raise enough money to buy a motorcycle. I believe that my life and that of my family will never be the same again,” said Kibe.

He promised to donate his bicycle to another youth as appreciation to God’s favour and to share the blessings he had received after the win.

Eric Kikumu Munywoki attributed his success to hard work and dedication adding that it would be in the same zeal that he will dedicate his new venture.

Meanwhile, Hon Alice Ng’ang’a has praised Thursday’s budget presented by the Finance Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich saying that the CS allocated substantial amount to both the youth and industrialisation ministries, something that would benefit youth and women empowerment programmes within the next Fiscal Year.

“As legislators, we will now look into both the existing youth and women programmes by the government as well as developing new ones in this Fiscal Year so as to ensure that we create more jobs for our young people. I also plan to initiate a new kitty with which our youth can acquire interest-free loans for business startups so that our Youth, Women and Persons with Disability can access government tenders and contracts through the 30% Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) Programme,” she said.