From Discrimination to Solidarity: How Boda Boda Riders Are Becoming Allies for LGBTQIA+ Safety in Coastal Kenya

In Kenya’s coastal counties, boda boda and matatu operators are not just transport providers—they are community gatekeepers, influencing norms and shaping public spaces. Once seen as perpetrators of violence against LGBTQIA+ individuals, they are now becoming unexpected allies for inclusion and safety. Through targeted sensitisation programmes led by the Initiative for Equality and Non-Discrimination (INEND) and Upinde Advocates For Inclusion (UAFI), supported by the KIOS Foundation, these community influencers are engaging in powerful conversations, challenging long-held prejudices, and becoming allies. This article explores how peer-led learning, community collaboration, and lived experience are turning hostility into hope in Mombasa, Kilifi, Busia, and beyond.

Flipping the Script

The change begins with a difficult realisation: boda boda and matatu operators had become known perpetrators of violence towards LGBTQIA+ individuals, often fuelled by misinformation, societal stigma, and fear. Grounded in findings from the study titled “Motorcycle Taxi Operators’ Perceptions of Sexual and Gender Minorities in Coastal Region, Kenya,” INEND recognised a hard truth—but chose an unexpected solution.

Rather than confront operators with blame, INEND chose to work with them. Starting in 2016, the organisation created safe, non-judgemental spaces for dialogue, using local realities, constitutional law, and human dignity as common ground. Partnering with community organisations such as Upinde Advocates For Inclusion in Kilifi, ELITE LBQ in Busia, and SMUG in Uganda, they built a model that turned community tension into community transformation.

We faced the reality that boda boda and matatu operators are often the very individuals perpetuating violence against LGBTQIA+ persons. Our decision to engage directly with them, fostering safe spaces for dialogue grounded in shared humanity, was deliberate and strategic. It was about norm-shifting and attitude change geared towards amassing social justice champions. The journey has shown us that true change blossoms from knowledge and understanding. Witnessing operators who once held deep prejudices now championing safety and human rights for all is not just a success; it’s a testament to the power of community-rooted strategies,” emphasised Essy Adhiambo, INEND’s Executive Director.

From Resistance to Reflection

Initial training sessions were met with heavy resistance. Many operators saw the programme as threatening their cultural and religious beliefs. Some believed LGBTQIA+ rights were incompatible with their values. With KIOS support, UAFI is conducting sensitisation for boda boda operators based on the model developed and tested by INEND.

To navigate the challenges, INEND and UAFI adapted their approach—using real-life examples, integrating discussions on broader marginalisation (including women and people with disabilities), and inviting operators to reflect on their influence.

One rider, for example, shared how after the training, he intervened in a situation where fellow riders verbally and physically abused two queer women—something he would have ignored in the past,” shared UAFI’s Executive Coordinator, reflecting on the change in attitudes.

By incorporating trainers from the boda boda and matatu sectors themselves, the initiative created ripple effects. Riders began extending the conversation beyond training spaces—to their stages, homes, and even local religious or community groups—becoming important allies in changing attitudes.

Real Impact, Everyday Change

“Before, I thought people like that didn’t belong here. But now I understand it’s about respect and safety for everyone. I wouldn’t want my sister treated badly. It’s the same for them,” one rider stated after attending UAFI’s training.

INEND’s evaluation report from 2024 shows promising results. About 74% of participants reported a shift in perception towards LGBTQIA+ people, and over half said they are actively sharing their understanding with others.

Some riders went even further—distributing non-discrimination messages on jackets, matatus, and murals as part of the Advocacy Mtaani (“advocacy in the neighbourhood”) campaign. Others have joined national efforts like the #ENDFEMICIDEKE protests.

UAFI has also documented remarkable shifts. One boda boda operator, after the training, intervened in his residential estate where a queer neighbour was regularly mocked: “You don’t have to agree with their life, but you can’t take away their safety or rights,” he told other tenants. Since then, the person has been able to engage more openly in their community—even joining riders outside in conversation.

Two of UAFI’s community members were harassed several times in the area where they reside; that area is considered a hotspot for violence—not just towards LGBTQ persons but the entire community. One of the trained boda boda operators, together with our paralegal, was able to talk to the operators there. Since then, no incident has been reported, despite the mediation taking several days,” explained UAFI’s Executive Coordinator when speaking on the impacts of the trainings.

Partnership That Powers Change

Support from the KIOS Foundation has been important to this transformation. It provided both legitimacy and flexibility—allowing INEND and UAFI to tailor follow-up strategies and expand alliances.

With KIOS support, we were able to partner with groups like the Warembo Sex Workers group and reach wider communities,” UAFI noted. “It gave us room to listen, adjust, and centre our approach around local realities.”

INEND’s Communications Officer Melody Njuki echoed the same sentiment:

KIOS helped us move beyond training and into structural change—engaging with legal and policy frameworks that sustain discrimination. Their support positioned us to speak in spaces that often exclude LGBTQIA+ voices.”

Seeds of Solidarity, Still Growing

Despite progress, challenges remain. New boda boda stages with untrained operators have emerged as new hotspots for violence. Some individuals remain resistant due to deep-rooted beliefs. But both INEND and UAFI are committed to long-term engagement.

The transition from hostility to interest, curiosity and, in certain situations, allyship has been our greatest achievement,” UAFI reflected. “It is powerful to start the conversation and witness the shift in viewpoints.”

One INEND beneficiary sums up the change clearly:

Understanding LGBTQ struggles and seeing how we can help made me want to support more people.”

The Road Ahead

In a region where LGBTQIA+ visibility can be dangerous, even small shifts matter. Fewer catcalls. Fewer slurs. More protection. More understanding. Boda boda operators who once enabled discrimination now offer solidarity—some even mentoring others.

There’s more work to be done. Looking ahead, INEND will deepen its peer-led learning approach and increase joint sessions with local leaders to build on current momentum and foster a broader community shift. UAFI plans to extend training duration, emphasise core human rights principles, and adopt a peer training model to reach more boda boda operators across Kilifi County. Efforts will also include distributing visible educational materials—such as reflectors and stickers—to reinforce learning and promote rights awareness within communities.

But from the streets of Kilifi to the stages of Mombasa, a powerful change is gaining momentum:

For once, I felt seen and safe, hearing a Boda guy say, ‘You are human too,’” shared an LBQ woman from Busia with INEND.

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with the Initiative for Equality and Non-Discrimination (INEND) Communications Officer Melody Njuki and Upinde Advocates For Inclusion (UAFI). It highlights the power of community-rooted strategies to create safer, more inclusive public spaces for all. KIOS has supported the work of INEND and UAFI since 2024.