KISUMU, Kenya — A women-led motorcycle transport initiative is helping pregnant women in western Kenya reach clinics and maternity wards faster, tackling what health workers describe as a major but often overlooked driver of preventable maternal and newborn deaths: the inability to get to care on time.
Launched in 2022, the Boda Girls programme operates in Siaya, Kisumu and Homa Bay counties, where long distances, poor road conditions and the cost of transport can delay antenatal visits and emergency referrals, especially at night or during heavy rains. The riders—trained female motorcyclists—provide transport to health facilities, with the initiative positioning safe, reliable mobility as a practical intervention at the intersection of public health and women’s economic empowerment.
Nancy Akeyo, the programme’s Kenya CEO, has argued that transport is frequently treated as peripheral in health planning even though it can determine whether women access skilled care in time. The programme’s materials describe the model as pairing women’s livelihoods with community service, including rides to critical health services.
For many expectant mothers, the value is not only speed but also trust. In interviews reported by Africanews, mothers in the region said they feel more comfortable being transported by a woman—particularly during labour—describing the female riders as reassuring for both patients and families.
Health workers say such reliability matters because delays—whether from lack of cash, unavailable vehicles, or unsafe travel—can prove fatal in obstetric emergencies. UNICEF estimates that more than 5,000 women and around 30,000 newborns die each year in Kenya from preventable complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Kenya has made progress in skilled delivery, but national and county health systems continue to face gaps in referral capacity and last-mile access, particularly in rural settings.
The Boda Girls model is not a substitute for ambulances, staffed facilities or broader health financing reforms, and programme organisers acknowledge it cannot solve systemic shortages on its own. But proponents argue it addresses a critical “between home and hospital” failure point—helping women attend check-ups, reach scan services and arrive for delivery before complications escalate.
As Kenya prepares for future maternal and newborn health targets, localised transport solutions like Boda Girls are increasingly being cited as practical complements to clinical improvements—especially in counties where distance and cost still decide who receives care in time, and who does not.
