“I’m not looking for a millionaire, but at least have a bodaboda. It shows you’re serious about life. I can’t marry a man who still borrows fare to come see me.”

— Sheila, 24, Bomet

Something strange is happening in Bomet, and if you're a young man looking for love, you’ve probably felt it already. More and more young women are openly saying they can’t date, let alone marry, a man who doesn’t own a bodaboda or motorbike. At first, it sounds like a joke, but when you talk to the ladies seriously, you realize it’s not about showing off or being materialistic — it’s about survival, respect, and proving that you’re trying.

In Bomet, having a motorbike is no longer just about transport. It’s a sign that you’re working. It shows you can earn something every day. You might not be rich, but at least you’re not sitting at home waiting for miracles. Many women here say that when a man owns a bodaboda, he can provide, even if it’s just a little. He can take you to the clinic. He can rush you to town. He’s mobile. He’s reliable. That bike means freedom.

Several young women we spoke to had one message — if you’re a man with no means of moving around, you’re not ready for marriage. Some even joked that a man walking to see a girl already looks tired, and it’s a sign of a tired future. Others were more serious, saying they’ve seen enough from men who only bring promises and excuses. A bike, even second-hand, is proof that a man is thinking forward.

But this trend also raises questions. Is it fair to judge a man based on what he rides? What if he’s genuinely struggling to start life, but he has vision and discipline? Some young men are now taking loans just to buy bikes and look “marriage-ready,” and not all of them can handle the pressure that comes with repayments and expectations.

Still, the message from Bomet is loud and clear: a bodaboda is no longer just for business. It’s become a modern bride price in its own way — a quiet requirement that speaks louder than words. If you’re a man in Bomet looking to settle down, don’t just prepare your heart. Prepare your wheels.