james wika 
The program aims to equip about 3,000 artisans with mechanical and electrical repairs and maintenance skills for two-wheelers and three-wheelers in Kenya. They will also be empowered with business management and safety skills to boost their technical and entrepreneurial skills.[Photo/car&general website}
Car and General Trading Limited has launched a training and empowerment program for technicians in the informal sector dubbed the ‘Cargen Tech-Up’. The program aims to equip about 3,000 artisans with mechanical and electrical repairs and maintenance skills for two-wheelers and three-wheelers in Kenya. They will also be empowered with business management and safety skills to boost their technical and entrepreneurial skills.
Vijay Gidoomal, the Company’s Group Chief Executive Officer said, “At Car & General, we want to develop and upgrade technical and entrepreneurial capabilities of private garage mechanics for two and three wheelers in Kenya. So far, we have trained 615 three wheeler and 5,377 two wheeler mechanics and we are looking at enhancing this program”.
“The program, costing over KShs 25 million per year, will expand employment and entrepreneurial opportunities in this sector. It will conveniently give juakali artisans training access at zero-cost. It will also ensure easy access to quality service and parts to our customers that will enhance our philosophy of making customers smile on every
street in every town”,he concluded.
Vijay Gidoomal explained, “Overall, the‘Cargen Tech-up’ program will offer training on financial and business management skills necessary for successful entrepreneurship, restore public trust in the sector and promote economic growth”.
Today, the boda boda industry has approximately 1.2 million riders earning an average income of KShs 1,000, which translates to KShs 1 billion per day and supports 6 million lives daily.Two and three wheeler transport has significantly eased transport challenges, facilitated trade and created employment in value chain. It is one of the biggest and fastest growing industries in Kenya. The juakali mechanic is at the centre of the entire boda boda eco-sytsem.
