In Isolated Communities, Kenya’s Boda Girls Ride to Save Lives

Across western Kenya, a group of female motorcycle riders known as the Boda Girls is playing a crucial role in improving access to maternal health care. Trained in both motorcycle riding and basic maternal health support, many of the riders are nurses or community health workers. Their work focuses on one simple but life-saving task: helping pregnant women in remote areas reach health facilities for check-ups, scans, and safe deliveries at no cost.

Launched in 2022, the initiative operates across Siaya, Kisumu, and Homa Bay counties. In these regions, poor road conditions, long distances, and high transport costs often stop women from getting medical care on time. Nancy Akeyo, CEO of Boda Girls Kenya, says transport remains a largely ignored barrier to women’s health, especially in rural areas where reaching a clinic can be difficult and expensive.

For many expectant mothers, having a female rider makes a meaningful difference. Maureen Achieng, a mother from the region, says she feels more comfortable being transported by a woman.  Health workers highlight that delays in reaching medical care are a major cause of maternal deaths. In some cases, women lose their lives simply because help does not arrive quickly enough. According to UNICEF, more than 5,000 women and around 30,000 newborns die every year in Kenya due to preventable complications linked to pregnancy and childbirth.

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