"They Call Her Mama Overland" - East Africa's First Female Truck Driver

Meet Becky: East Africa's first female truck driver. As a woman in a traditionally male profession, Becky is breaking gender stereotypes and inspiring the next generation of Kenyan and Tanzanian girls to follow their passion into their dream careers.
Taking Intrepid travellers on overland safari trips through Kenya and Tanzania, along with some of the female leaders working in East Africa, Becky gets to show people this region from a woman's perspective.
Watch Becky's story and let her tell you about her experience.
#BeFair
#BeIntrepid
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[VOICEOVER TRANSCRIPTION]
'My name is Becky and I’m a single mother of a son called Louis.
I longed to be a truck driver since I was a young girl.
This was because my dad was a truck driver.'
John Kinyua - Operations Manager East Africa: 'Becky is the first female truck driver in East Africa.'
Becky: 'I love my job - I drive my travellers or guests to national parks to see wildlife “Ok My Guests! In front of us we have white rhinos”
At first, men used to give me a hard time, I used to be very bullied. Every place that we go to, they will react'.
George Njau - Workshop Manager: 'First time I came here, I was so shocked to see a lady driving a truck. A lot of companies call me, they say: George - there’s a lady driving your vehicle. I said: Yeah. “how?” What do you mean how?. You saw her driving it. “Does she fix it?” I said yeah, she services the truck on the side of the road. She changes tyres. People think she’s supposed to be back in the village or in the house, cooking for her husband or cooking for her kids.'
Becky: 'They would even come and block me in the front. Like in Tanzania, they scream. Those ones would tell me: “Becky! You’re not supposed to be driving a truck, you’re a woman. Why should you! Can’t you go home and do something better? Maybe take care of your family. Anything to make me feel like I’m not supposed to do this.
There were some men who were like “I don’t think she should be in the truck that I’m in” That day, I think I cried half of the day, and I never had cried before. George is one of the person I will never forget. Because if it was not for his encouragement, then, I was to quit.'
George: 'Becky I been like “don’t lose hope. You’ll find challenges. People talk bad about you, but keep strong, and you’ll make it.”
Becky: 'Nakoudini Amini - Nakoudini Amini is believe in yourself.'
Workshop team: 'I was very new. So she helped me with some tips for the road. And I wished for her to carry me. Take me for a ride. And… it was awesome.'
'I think she drives it like she was born with it. She knows the truck inside out. She does what I can do. She’s one of us. She’s not different from anyone.'
Becky: 'I have been driving trucks for Intrepid for the last six years.'
George: 'Becky is very famous. The police know her, even the border. They see her, and they are like “Bring it”. She comes here in the office and everybody is chatting up with her. She has to run away: “I have work to do”. She’s part of our family, and we’re really proud of her.
My daughter, she loves Becky so much because she is driving trucks. She call her Aunty Becky. “One day I’d like to drive like Aunty Becky”. I say: “even you can drive if you want to, just have the courage, determination, and you’ll make it through”. People think she has triumphed. She has done what a lot of females do not accomplish.'
Becky: 'I just told her once: “Mum, do you know that I’m a truck driver?” “Oh my goodness!” she looks up and says: “I wish your dad can see you”.'
George: 'She has made a lot of companies think about employing female drivers now. So we’re looking forward to having a second lady driver, just all because of Becky. She encourages a lot of women now. A lot of women are looking to do driving.'
Becky: 'You say: “I’m a go-getter”. You’ll get it, you’ll get whatever you want.'
George: 'I’m proud to say that, we have the first female driver in East Africa, and that is Becky.'
Be Fair.
Be Intrepid.
Find out more about how Intrepid is supporting gender equality at www.intrepidtravel.com/be-fair
www.intrepidtr...
Intrepid Travel has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1989. A company that began with two bearded backpackers, a typewriter and a kitchen table now leads 100,000 travellers across the globe each year.
And although we’re a bit larger these days - with 1,000 local staff based around the world and over 800 different trips across every continent (not to mention multiple kitchen tables) - our mission remains the same. We still get a kick out of responsible travel, small groups and very (very) big adventures.