THE 50 SHILLINGS DIFFERENCE

Between Risk and Routine

Wafula is a boda boda operator, one of many motorcycle taxi riders navigating the streets of Kenya each day. Unlike others who own their bikes, Wafula is employed. He rides someone else's motorbike and must pay the owner 300 Kenyan shillings daily without fail. He consistently meets this target, but still has to find extra income to support his young family.

One day, during his usual rounds, Wafula picked up a wealthy man for a short ride. After reaching the destination, the man paid and asked for Wafula's contact information so he could call him for future rides.

As time went on, the...