Nakuru is emerging as a growing digital taxi hub housing both local and international companies.

Among the local players, is Wasili Digital Taxi Company.

Founded in 2018 by childhood friends Mark Njagi, 35, and Tim Kamanga, 36, the company was born out of a recognition of the gap in the digital cab sector and the high costs associated with traditional taxis in Nakuru.

Tim Kamanga, co-founder of Wasili cab.

Photo credit: COURTESY

Njagi, a seasoned transport industry entrepreneur, and Kamanga, an IT expert with a Computer Science background, combined their skills to launch the venture.

Their background and expertise were instrumental in getting the business off the ground.

With two vehicles and Kamanga’s apartment as an office, the two started the business hoping that it would pick up.

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Luckily, the market research paid off as Nakuru residents quickly embraced Wasili cab.

From humble beginnings, Wasili has grown substantially to operate a fleet of over 300 vehicles solely in Nakuru.

"Since 2018 when we began, we have not only opened our offices but also increased our area of reach where the company has expanded to other towns including Kisumu, Eldoret, Kericho and Lodwar," Kamanga says.

Kamanga reveals that in the beginning, there was no structure to address customer complaints.

Wasili handles a fleet of 300 vehicles in Nakuru alone.

Photo credit: MERCY KIHUGU/MTAA WANGU

To solve this, the company established a 24-hour dispatch center, which he says has assisted in ensuring customer satisfaction.

Despite their success, Kamanga notes that the business hasn't been immune to challenges.

Keeping their systems up to date has been crucial, as a slowdown in the system once led to manual customer requests which exposed customers to inflated pricing by some drivers.

The COVID-19 pandemic also posed a significant setback, dampening the business during its initial stages and causing driver layoffs since there were minimal rides.

"This was led by a significant number of people opting out of using the cab since our services are seen as a luxury and not a need. Our revenue reduced significantly during that time," he recalls.

Another recent challenge was the increase of fuel prices that saw an outcry by the cab drivers claiming the set rates were too low.

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To solve this, Wasili raised the rates to offset increased fuel prices, initially resulting in fewer rides. However, this trend has gradually reversed over time.

Kamanga says the company encourages their drivers to use vehicles with relatively lower fuel consumption to enable them and the drivers get more earnings.

“We take in low consumption vehicles of at most 1300cc. A car owner takes home a net income of Sh 5,000 a week,” Kamanga reveals.

Looking ahead, Kamanga envisions a bright future for the business, aiming for national and even international expansion.

mercykihugu@gmail.com

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Mercy Kihugu