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Six women, the Throttle Queens, crisscross East Africa on a motorcycle to raise awareness of road safety issues.
The six Kenyans spent last week on an epic journey across East Africa that kicked off in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, on Good Friday. The bikers crossed Kampala and Kigali, spreading the word about the need to use the roads safely.
"If we drive, it's because there's a lot of carnage on the roads and dead on our roads. Our mission is to get people to share the roads and use them responsibly, "said Njeri Mwangi, a member of Throttle Queens, during a stopover in the Rwandan capital, Kigali.
Thousands of people die every year on the roads of Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. Drunk driving, traffic disrespect and broken roads are the leading causes of death, according to accident data from the Global Partnership for Road Safety.
The idea behind Throttle Queens is that motorcyclists are at high risk of death, especially in Africa. "We met a lot at the funeral, burying our dead friends in road accidents. So we decided we wanted to meet when we live and have fun, "Mwangi told RFI.
"Kampala was difficult because of traffic"
Women meet for walks about six times a year. The current car trip is the longest and most difficult one. "Kampala was the hardest part of the trip because of the traffic. Fortunately, members of the Kampala motorcycle club helped us, "said Njeri.
Bikers are also helped along the way by a reserve team of husbands and three 4×4 vehicles. Wherever women go, people stop and watch. "It means that we immediately have people's attention and that we can convey our message to a captive audience," said Njeri.
The Throttle Queens are due to return to Nairobi on Monday, April 29 to welcome a hero. Their journey is closely followed on social media and by local broadcasters.
After this 2,000 kilometer getaway, women have a trip to South Africa by the year 2020.
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