EFFECTS OF MOTORBIKES TRANSPORT SERVICES ON ECONOMIC LIFE OF RIDERS IN MACHAKOS TOWN, MACHAKOS COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Poverty is widespread in both the cities and urban areas of Kenya. In order to provide themselves with means of support, many of the unemployed have no choice but to exploit the income and self or casual employment opportunities in the informal sector of the economy. The informal sector has thus become a major provider of employment especially in developing and transitional economies. The types of work available in the informal economy are diverse and multifarious. It stretches from casual and unstable employment like garbage picking, street trading, domestic help, and so on; to self-employment as master-craftsman in any given trade. The relatively cheap price of a motorbike as compared to vehicles favored its widespread use on Kenyan roads especially at the aftermath of the 1990 socioeconomic and political crises. Motorbikes progressively began to be used for commercial purposes; transporting people and goods at relatively cheap prices. This has brought in a number of changes affecting the political, economic and socio-cultural landscape in Kenya. The objective of this research study was to investigate the effects of motorbikes on economic life of riders with reference to Machakos town. The specific objectives were to identify how motorbikes transport services influences economic life of riders with reference to Machakos Town, Machakos County, to examine how motorbikes transport services occupation influences economic life of riders within Machakos Town, Machakos County, to find out how motorbikes transport services influences economic life of riders with reference to Machakos Town, Machakos County and, to examine the extent of compliance with the traffic regulations by riders with reference to Machakos Town, Machakos. The study was carried out using Descriptive survey to find out the effects of motorbikes on economic life of riders with reference to Machakos County. According to Machakos Traffic police department records, it is estimated that there are approximately 1000 motorbike riders, in the town. The target population of the study comprised of 10% of the 1000 motorbike riders making a sample size of 100 respondents. The data collection instruments used in this research proposal for data collection were questionnaires. Data collected using questionnaires was analyzed by the use of descriptive statistics and presented by means of frequency tables and charts. From the findings, commercial motorbike operations are a source of employment and income for many Machakos youths. Second, the earnings analysis carried out confirms that the majority of operators are earning more than the minimum wage, and that, perhaps has made the sector to be attractive to many youths who would have remained openly unemployed. The study established that the motorcycle business offers a platform for generation of employment, raising the living standards and economy of livelihoods of Motorbike transporters and families of Machakos Town. Further, the further established that the level of satisfaction with the motorbikes business as an economic activity by the respondents is high mainly because they make savings from the business. The findings of this study have brought about some implications for policy and further research. The study concluded that flexibility of the Motorcycles has resulted to the increase of the clients and in turn generated income to the operators leading to improvement of their riders‟ economic life. The study recommends that Motorbike operation is one of the major providers of employment for youths who would have otherwise remained unemployed.