Uber taxi goes to Mombasa : But how does it work?

International transport industry new kid on the block,  UBER, is now in Kenya’s Coastal town,  Mombasa, despite rejection and challenges in different cities globally.

Non-uber taxi drivers have been atacking uber taxi drivers due to business rivalry.

Learn more about the Uber phenomenon below:

Mobile phones are among leading disruptive technologies in the twenty first century.

True, the effects of these ubiquitous gadgets are rapidly changing the modus operandi of taxi operators in Kenya.

Unlike in the past decade where a mobile phone was seen as a status symbol gadget, today it has become a necessary accompaniment for any one in business.

John Nyagaka, a Nairobi based taxi driver avers that it is nearly impossible to survive as a taxi- driver without a mobile phone.

“Customers are evolving. Today they do not come to look for a taxi, they just dial (sic) and the taxi comes to where they are, ”says Nyagaka.

That means taxi drivers who only depend for ‘passing’ clients are making less profit as opposed to those that share their mobile phone numbers or business cards with clients for future correspondence and business.

“With a mobile phone you only need to courteously share your number with your first time clients and the possibility of them calling you in future for a ride is high,” agrees James Mutamba, another taxi driver in Nairobi.

The mobile phenomenon disrupted the taxi-industry further with the recent introduction of Uber, an app-based ridesharing service.

Launched in San Fransisco five years ago, Uber is a technology company that developed an app that connects drivers to clients.

The app seeks to aid people without cars or who would prefer to use taxis instead of own cars to move around affordably.

Uber Operations Manger in Nairobi, Kagure Wamunyu, saiys in 2014 the company  helped make 1 million trips happen across sub Saharan Africa.

“We doubled that total in the first six months of 2015… we are changing the way people think about getting around; we are transforming the way people connect with the people in their cities.” she says.

How Uber works

To use the app, one must download it onto a mobile phone. It works on both iOS, Android and Windows phones.

Since Uber does not own any vehicles, drivers or car owners must  register after fulfilling some conditions.

Perhaps what makes Uber attractive to many users is the background check and measures taken to ensure customers do fall in wrong hands.

Among the required documents include copy of an ID, driver’s license, Certificate of Good Conduct, PSV license, PSV insurance, driver’s and car owner’s tax pin, a logbook to ensure that the car is not stole and a vehicle inspection report.

“Our safety features are the gold standard: on requesting a car, you see the driver’s photo, name and car licence plate. You are also able to share your route with your friends and family so they know exactly where you are and when you are arriving. Our background and vehicle checks in Nairobi exceed the local standard. We require certification for tax purposes; insurance; a vehicle inspection report; appropriate driving license and police clearance.

According to Wamunyu, the company conducts weekly checks to ascertain which documents are almost expiring. Drivers are then alerted to update documents in good time or else be removed from the system.

“In Nairobi we have partnered with a significant number of drivers and provided them with the tools to build their own small businesses. Our mission is to provide a safe and reliable transport option to riders and greater economic opportunity to drivers,” says Wamunyu.