By Antynet Ford
Twenty-six drivers under the Women on Wheels Program initiative between Bamburi Cement and Isuzu East Africa have graduated and got certified.
Isuzu Drivers Academy launched in 2021 targets Isuzu East Africa’s customers by imparting skills to logistics drivers on defensive driving, understanding traffic rules and acts, becoming smart drivers in handling the equipment and driving economically, understanding commercial vehicle financing and insurance, and the use of Google Maps.
The move is geared towards enhancing driving skills, increasing employability, and strengthening road safety on Kenyan roads while helping their customers run their businesses sustainably.
So far, 205 drivers have been trained.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony, Isuzu EA’s Managing Director Rita Kavashe applauded the graduates adding that the training at the Academy was part of the company’s enhanced services to their customers in transport solutions.
“As a trusted logistics partner, Isuzu is committed to excellence, and safety is our number one priority in helping our customers grow their businesses sustainably.
The Isuzu Drivers Academy goes the extra mile to ensure that our customers not only get the right vehicles to meet their transport needs but also qualified and trained drivers.“ Kavashe said.
Bamburi Cement partnered with Isuzu Drivers Academy to increase women’s opportunities in transport by offering training and employment. Four women have graduated from the cohort.
Bamburi Cement Plc Sustainability and Geocycle Director Jane Wangari said the collaboration is helping the cement company balance its male-dominated driver workforce, meeting road safety and sustainability targets.
“We target to add at least 50 women to our transport value chain each year, to offset the 95% of the male drivers in 500-600 third-party truck drivers transporting our products or raw materials daily.
Our data shows that women trained from this program, on average, are safer on the roads, use less fuel, and reduce truck maintenance costs.” Wangari said.
The training is also set to help reduce collisions on roads at a time when a significant number of people are injured in accidents involving vehicles.
Data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has shown that at least 22,885 people were involved in road accidents in 2023.
This is an increase of 5.2% or 1,127 compared to 2022 where 21,758 people were involved in road crashes and 4,690 died, 9,933 got seriously injured and 7,135 were slightly injured.
According to NTSA, 4,324 died in 2023 while the rest were left mostly with life-changing injuries.
The Academy has over time ensured that Isuzu customers acquire the right vehicles to meet their transport needs and qualified and trained drivers.
The fifth graduation is the first cohort training for the year with other four programs scheduled in April, June, September and December.
