Of boys and their motor bikes in Juba

There is nothing much to talk about the capital city of Southern Sudan, Juba, in terms of development.However, the city has huge potential for exponential growth in future if the government encourages investors.
This is not the issue at least for now. The issue at hand has to do with the biking craze of the local boys. Stories are told of how the boys acquired their favorite machines – the motor bikes commonly known as Senke.
Some years back, somebody came up with an ingenious idea ago of rewarding them with motor bikes whenever they surrendered their guns. It was a ploy to break the jinx of child soldier.
Boys as young as 12 years cruise the dilapidated roads leading to Juba oblivious of the dangers posed by speeding vehicles. They don’t observe the slightest road signs nor do they abide with instructions. A couple of times, I have observed them pull dangerous stunts like standing on the seat while accelerating at top speed or lying prostrate on the bike while riding.Amazingly,none of them has protective gears like helmets or heavy jackets.
Everyday, an alarming number of them are involved in grisly road accidents yet they don’t seem to learn. The accidents are too many that some hospitals have specific wards for Senke victims. I hear that they are treated without anesthesia to teach them a lesson. I think it’s the high time some sanity is exercised by the local authority to reduce the accidents.

James Mwangi Kanyi.
Juba,S Sudan.