Are you ready for a whole new experience in Kenya’s transport sector?
For sometime now the Kenyan Matatu Sector has been regarded as one that is disorganized and uncouth.
This is about to change as three technology companies plan to introduce mass transport apps.
Little Cabs, Safiri Express and Egypt-based Swvl have vowed to disrupt the matatu sector.
The three tech firms are testing ways to get customers to destinations with fewer stops, at affordable prices, while maintaining high quality and safety standards..
Little Cab CEO Kamal Budhabhati said they have set aside more than Sh40 million to unveil Little Cab’s e-shuttle service to the public before the month ends.
“We have noted a lot of chaos and inconsistency in the matatu business, despite them providing good transport,” Budhabhati said. “They are not organised.”
The craft silicon founder currently runs Little e-shuttle services from Kahawa Sukari to Westlands, Bomas to the CBD via Upper Hill, and Kinoo to South B routes.
Also planning to carry out a pilot is Safiri Express, which intends to launch before this quarter ends. This will be their second pilot. Swvl has already launched into the market after piloting along Thika Road.
“The top three issues we noted in our first pilot were unpredictability, poor transit experience, and price fluctuation on the demand side,” Zulekha Mwanzi said. Mwanzi is the co-founder and CEO of Sure Corporation, the parent company of Safiri Express.
Swvl has raised about Sh3.8 billion in funding to support its expansion to different parts of the world, including Nairobi, where drivers reportedly recorded empty trips on the first days of piloting.
Head of operations Shahzeb Memon said they have pumped about Sh5 billion into the Kenyan market and intend to employ more than 100,000 drivers.
Interestingly, Uber, which was the first to introduce digital taxis in the country, is not interested in local public transit.
“While we are always looking at new features and products, this is not something we are looking at launching in Kenya, or across sub-Saharan Africa, at this time,” East Africa Uber spokesperson Janet Kemboi said.
Even so, the US-based firm launched its first bus service globally in Egypt last month.