Joseph Muthike Gichoya^1,, Peter Rugano¹, Kaberia Isaac Kubai²

The boda-boda business in Kenya is a significant sector that has been widely studied for its impacts on employment creation and improvements in living standards. However, due to limited literature concerning the impact of this industry on the education of young boys, this study sought to investigate the role of the boda-boda enterprise on the school dropout rate of boys in Kirinyaga East Sub County by investigating the motivating factors that attract school-going boys and other riders to join the boda-boda business in Kirinyaga East Sub-County. The study utilized the Albert Bandura Social Learning theory to guide the research process. Data collection involved distributing questionnaires to boda-boda operators to gather relevant information. The collected data was then analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics to draw meaningful conclusions. The study findings uncovered significant factors influencing school dropout rates among boda-boda riders in Kirinyaga East Sub County, including the prevalence of young riders under 18, the duration of their involvement in the business, and the type of boda-boda ownership impacting their educational choices. Logistic regression analysis highlighted age (p<0.05), marital status (p<0.01), business engagement duration (p<0.001) and educational perceptions (p<0.05) as key influencers of dropout rates. The study revealed that economic factors, such as the need for income generation, social factors, such as community influence, and personal motivations, like a desire for independence, were identified as key drivers that attract individuals towards the boda-boda sector. In conclusion, the study underscored the significant issue of school dropouts among boda-boda riders and shed light on the underlying motivational factors that drive individuals to pursue opportunities within the boda-boda industry. The study recommends intensification of career guidance programs in schools, empowering students with financial literacy, establishing community engagement initiatives and collaboration with relevant stakeholders to address dropout rates and enhance educational opportunities for young boys in Kirinyaga East Sub-county.

boda-boda, school dropout rate, motivating factors, logistic regression analysis