Beyond the Ride: Nguruki Boda Boda Operators Build a Sustainable Business
What happens when young people stop waiting for opportunities and decide to create one?
In Nguruki, a group of young boda boda operators is showing what is possible when young people come together, save, invest, and believe in their collective potential.
Today, they run a petrol station that serves their community, generates income for the group, and has created opportunities for its members. But perhaps more importantly, the business has given them something even more valuable: the confidence to believe in what they can achieve together.
But this story did not begin with a petrol station.
It began with a simple decision: to come together and see what they could achieve as a group.
From Boda Boda Riders to Business Owners
In July 2021, 20 young people came together and registered the Nguruki Boda Boda Operators Self-Help Group. They started saving through table banking, contributing what they could, lending to one another to meet their needs, and gradually building their financial base.
At one point, their savings had grown to KES 112,000 (approximately $868), a significant milestone for the group.
But as their savings grew, so did their ambition.
Dancun, the group’s chairperson, encouraged the members to think beyond lending and explore what else they could achieve together, even without enough capital to start a business.
That conversation led to an idea that would change the group’s future: investing in a one-pump petrol station.
“I saw an opportunity in our own area. People needed fuel, and I thought, why not start something that could serve the community and also benefit us as a group?”
To turn the idea into reality, the group approached the Tharaka Nithi County Government, which provided a plot where they could establish the station.
They now had a location. What they needed was capital.
That is where HopeCore’s Micro Enterprise program came in.
A Loan That Turned a Dream into Reality
In 2023, the Nguruki Boda Boda Operators approached HopeCore through its Micro Enterprise program and received a KES 1,683,986 loan (approximately $13,054), repayable over two years.
For the young entrepreneurs, it was a significant amount of money, but also a life-changing opportunity.
They understood the responsibility that came with borrowing such a large amount. Working together, they established the petrol station, managed the business, and consistently made their loan repayments.
They repaid the loan in full within two years.
Today, the petrol station serves boda boda riders, vehicle owners, and community members who rely on fuel-powered machines such as chaff cutters. The business has also created employment for a young person from the community who works as a pump attendant.
For residents, the station has made accessing fuel much easier.
“Before we had the petrol station, getting fuel was not easy. Sometimes we had to travel far to find it, especially in the evening. Now, we can get fuel here and continue working until late. It has really made things easier for us as motorbike riders and for the community.” -Elphas, motorbike rider.
As the Business Grows, So Do the Members
Repaying the loan was not the end of the group’s journey. Instead, it marked the beginning of a new chapter.
With the business generating income, the group developed a strategic way to ensure that its 11 current members could also benefit directly from the success they had built together.
The strategy is simple: whenever the group accumulates KES 100,000, one member receives the amount as an appreciation, giving each member an opportunity to invest in their own future and strengthen their livelihood.
The money comes from the group’s continued savings and profits from the petrol station.
On an average day, the business makes around KES 2,000 in profit, while on better days, profits can reach KES 4,000.
This approach does more than reward members. It encourages them to remain committed to saving, growing the business, and supporting one another.
And the impact is already visible.
“I used my KES 100,000 to buy a pool table. It is now generating income that helps me meet my daily and monthly needs.” - Nicholas.
For John, the money helped him complete a project that had stalled.
“I used my KES 100,000 to complete my house after construction had stalled. This support gave me the opportunity to finally finish what I had started.” - John.
These individual investments show how a collective business can create opportunities that extend beyond the business itself, helping members improve their homes, create additional sources of income, and strengthen their livelihoods.
The Journey Is Far From Over
The Nguruki Boda Boda Operators’ journey to entrepreneurs is far from over.
Their next goal is already taking shape: adding a diesel pump to the petrol station so they can serve more customers, increase sales, and grow the business further.
This is youth economic empowerment in action: young people investing together, building together, and creating a future they can believe in.
