Estonian ride sharing company, Taxify has introduced a new motorbike hailing service dubbed Taxify Boda which will work within their already existing smartphone app that has been used to hail taxis. The entry into the industry has been due to the growing demand for safer, reliable and organized motorbike services especially in the capital city.
In attendance during the launch was Chisom Anoke, Taxify Kenya Operations Manager, who said, “The rising use of motorcycle riders for public passenger transport is a reality that we have to live with particularly in Nairobi where traffic jams and clogged roads tend to delay movement.”
According to the firm, apart from linking passengers to the motorcycle riders through the app, the introduction of Taxify Boda will also assist in structuring the informal transport sector, which is estimated to ferry about 10,000 people in the capital city alone.
“We want to help the motorcycle drivers formalize their businesses by providing them with a platform to track trips, earnings and even plan for personal development initiatives such a saving with a Sacco. Since they are already trying to establish formal groupings, Taxify Boda will greatly raise their operational focus and even eventually make it easier for them to afford to purchase new motorcycles,” Mr. Anoke added.
The new motorbike hailing service has a minimum fare of Shs50 per trip, for longer trips users will have to part with a base rate of Shs30, Shs15 per kilometre and Shs30 per minute. According to Taxify’s projection the boda-boda drivers will be able to take home almost Sh1, 500 gross daily income.
For the motorbike owners who want to sign up to join Taxify Boda will be required to have motorcycle models that are not more than 8 years old. In addition, they will also require a PSV insurance, first aid kit, two reflective jackets and two helmets. Apart from all this, in order to assure the customers that they are in safe hands, the drivers looking to join the service will have to undergo thorough verification before being accepted.
