Living in a foreign country isn’t always as glamorous as the beautiful photos and videos make it seem. While it might sound fun and exciting at first, the old saying, East or West home is best, will forever hold true.
Having been born and raised in the UK, Mike is now an Uber driver working in Kenya. In a YouTube video, he shared that he has spent over 30 years in Scotland.
He mainly takes rides for hotel and airport trips, as well as offline bookings to far destinations. Now, he makes a decent living as an Uber driver which affords him the luxury of enjoying a simple lifestyle.
“Life in the UK isn’t what everyone tells you. It’s not all easy money, there are challenges and the government is watching everything you do. It is a general rule that if you’re not trying to become a millionaire or already one, you’re failing in life,” he said.
Mike shared that he decided to enter the taxi business after his research proved the potential upsides and the many profitable opportunities it offered. While living abroad, he drove buses, so when he returned to Kenya, he chose to opt for his driving passion.
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Mike noted that in the UK, there are all kinds of people who have invested in the Uber business, including those who chose to do Luxury vehicles.
“You might get a Mercedes Benz S-class on Uber Luxury, so it’s not just the cheapest car you can find. People are staking hundreds of millions of shillings into that business,” Mike added.
In Kenya, Mike drives a Nissan Serena which he bought on the second-hand market for around Sh. 650,000. His vehicle gives him fuel consumption that ranges between 7-12km/l.
“Coming from the UK where I was driving cars with a lot bigger engines, it’s not bad. I’ve driven cars that get 4km/l. In terms of the profit, it’s still there,” he said while encouraging people not to shy away from investing in cars with bigger engines for the Uber business.
Mike started his own company, Bwakire Travels, offering clients the option of offline trips at lower rates. He explained that he made this choice because he prefers longer drives, which are less stressful compared to navigating the busy streets of Nairobi.
“It’s more peaceful and adventurous. You’re going on a long trip and can stay overnight and even bring the customers over on the next day. Of course, it works out more favourably in terms of income,” Mike revealed.
Mike shared that it’s possible to earn between Sh. 30,000 to Sh. 50,000 monthly in the Uber business, with daily earnings ranging from Sh. 2,000 to Sh. 3,000.