Today, I’m dedicating a post to the road rebels. This is a two-wheeled mode of transport. It moves faster than lightning and rules the streets of East Africa. Do you know what I’m talking about?

Exactly, the BODA BODAs. The go-to transport for short distances—and sometimes even longer ones. The transport for literally everything. Whether it’s people, calves, goats, sheep, chickens, furniture, electrical cables, groceries, or who knows what else—Boda Bodas are the kings of the road. They are fast, agile, and affordable.

But—they are also the rebels of the streets. When they speed through the city, they don’t hold back. They squeeze through every gap, race around corners, and ignore traffic rules. They overtake from the left, the right, the front, and the back—barely avoiding running you over. As a pedestrian, you automatically have lower priority, and as a car driver, you better check five times before making a move because they appear out of nowhere.

Very few wear helmets. Most of the time, only the drivers, but I have noticed in recent weeks that more and more passengers are also wearing helmets—though they are still an absolute minority. When you’re on a Boda Boda, you get a real sense of freedom. The wind rushes through your hair, and you’re busy holding on tight so you don’t fall off the motorcycle.

Boda Boda riders love small talk and storytelling. My boyfriend once learned half the life story of a driver—on just a 10-minute ride. It’s also not uncommon to see them on the phone while driving. And if they’re low on fuel, they’ll take you to the gas station with them. If you only have big bills, they’ll drive you to a shop to break them—speaking from personal experience here.

Now, let’s talk about safety. Boda Bodas are definitely not the safest means of transport. At the same time, I’ve been living in East Africa for two years now, and I’ve only witnessed one accident—and that was just a few months ago. A Boda Boda driver was going way too fast around a sharp turn with a passenger. The bike slid along the ground, but miraculously, both the driver and the passenger managed to jump off just in time. The Boda Boda was wrecked, but both of them were unharmed.

As my mom always says: “Life is dangerous!” But as a white person, I have an advantage. Of course, something could happen to me too, but I’ve noticed that most drivers tend to be more cautious when I’m on board. However, sometimes the opposite happens—they want to show off. But one phrase always works: “Pole, pole Boss!” (Slow down!)—they all understand that.

I’m grateful for Boda Bodas because they are always around when you need one. They have become a fixed part of my life in Kenya, and I wouldn’t want to live without them. And just recently, I caught myself asking my English student, who lives in Europe, why she took a taxi instead of a Boda Boda—after all, they are much cheaper. Well, that’s how fast you adapt!