Exploring Motorcyclists Development from streets of Kigali
Debates have risen several times when comparing financial status of working class both government and private based institutions and those referred to as not working. It is commonly perceived that civil servants, company managers, various institutional directors and/or simply employed people are far more holding better economic stability compared to the rest.
This ‘falas’ of generalization claims  that people with good education whatever that ‘good’ means, are at the top class among financially well-off in the society.
Validity of such hypothesis faded recently when a newsman sniff out some facts and discovered a totally different reality. Those we call common, vendors/ retailer and other such people including shoe makers are ones earning more compared to the so called learned and employed.
Let us take an example of a bodaboda rider (Motorcyclist) who earns at least Rwf 20,000 a day and is able to keep/save Rwf 10,000 to Rwf 15,000 whereas one who rides a small motorcycle nicknamed as (agahene) that carries a passenger at Rwf 200 for short distances compared to Rwf300 of the other earns about Rwf 10,000 to Rwf15, 000 a day and can save Rwf6000 to 8000 a day.
It might be shocking but the fact is, a random interview that has been conducted on May 10, 12th  14th and , 16th  2012  with several Motorcyclists from various streets of Kigali city as wide as Kacyiru, Kimironko, Kicukiro, Nyamirambo, Kwarubangura (City Centre) Remera and many other areas around the city.
“I get between Rwf9000 and 10000 on a bad day and do put aside Rwf 6000 or 7000 after covering all necessary expenses but when things are good, I normally count only in tens of thousands,†replied Karegeya Alphonce a motor cyclist who works from Nyamirambo.
Apart from few individuals who denied revealing their daily income earnings, the rest spoke it out. It was not a group interview but a one to one dialogue which means there is no way they might have copied information from each other.
“I have intentions of building a good house, and have already bought a plot for it in Bugesera. My bank account is promising and I think of buying a car to operate as a town taxi†Kanuma Jean Pierre talked in cheerful sentences.
The interviewer was even caught breathless when boarded a motorcycle around 23hours from Kwarubangura to Kimironko and the conversation between the two unveiled that the rider was taking home his last thousand making it Rwf32,000 a day.
It is not easy fetching information from such people but professionalism has to be honoured. Jokes and lots of humour takes charge in such instances while picking necessary facts along talks as it is a must to bring in seriousness at some point.
Another boasted in what preferred to be anonymous, that there are various passenger fare depending on how presentable one is, where he/she is to be taken both distance and type of residence and more to that, there is a ‘Muzungu fare’ (fare for whites) this should not be misperceived like segregation or anything related to that, but these people are intelligent enough that they generally predict money haves.
“Amafaranga agaragara kumuntu†literally implying, (you can easily know someone with money)
They all confirmed that if one uses his own motorcycle, he really get good money and those working for others have some difficulties as they have to present certain money to their bosses but believe me they also have enough for a balance.
One thing bothers majority of them and it is all about poor management. Some of them are used to that daily money and they spend carelessly hoping for the continual flow next day and always. As a result, one remains in grief and complains.
About 20 motorcyclists interviewed the average monthly earning was Rwf400, 000; an estimation of US$600. If you ask how many employees get such a salary both in government and private, you will not be surprised to see big is the difference particularly that those are considered least in the society are far more ahead of those they carry to big offices.
Rwandan’s cooperative policy is expected to improve lives of these people, expose them to various trainings, teach them to plan ahead of time, tell them difference between unlimited wants and limited needs of a human being that will enable them manage not only money but also their life.
