A Kenyan taxi ride-hailing app driver shared his experience of working in the industry. He drives a Suzuki Wagon R, a partner-owned vehicle branded with Bolt’s logo, which he has been using for two years.
The car is popular for its good fuel consumption and affordable maintenance. It costs between Sh. 850,000 and Sh. 1 million. The partnership arrangement requires him to pay Sh. 9,000 per week to the car owner.
To maximize earnings, the driver works with four major ride-hailing apps: Bolt, Uber, Little Cab, and Yego. He previously included Faras but dropped it to focus on the four most rewarding platforms.
The branding on his car brings extra income, as Bolt pays Sh. 2,350 weekly to meet a target of 65 trips. This amounts to an additional Sh. 9,400 per month. In his opinion, Bolt provides the most reliable service and attracts more customers.
On a good day, he can make up to Sh. 7,000 from Bolt alone, especially during high-demand times like rainy weather. The driver’s strategy is to capitalize on such peak periods and ensure he maintains high ratings and an excellent acceptance score to secure more trips.
Understanding client locations also matters; for instance, Uber is most active in areas like Westlands and Kileleshwa, while all three apps perform well in the Nairobi CBD.
Little Cab, favoured by corporates, has a higher starting rate of Sh. 250 per trip but fewer clients compared to the individual users on Bolt and Uber. This makes Little Cab his preferred option during heavy traffic, as it pays better for time spent on the road.
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The driver, further discussing his earnings, revealed that Bolt is his primary source of income. After Bolt’s 16% commission, he earns Sh. 36,420 per week, translating to Sh. 91,770 monthly. Uber and Little Cab each bring in around Sh. 5,000 weekly. Including the branding income, his gross weekly earnings amount to approximately Sh. 50,000.
However, expenses reduce his take-home pay. He spends Sh. 2,500 daily on fuel, which totals Sh. 15,000 weekly. Commissions across the platforms cost him about Sh. 12,500 weekly, while the weekly car lease fee is Sh. 9,000. Airtime and internet expenses add another Sh. 1,000 per week. After all deductions, he estimates around Sh. 50,000 monthly from the ride-hailing business.
The driver shared that these ride-hailing apps can be a viable source of income for those willing to put in the work. He, however, warned that one needs to carefully plan and be well-positioned for the most opportunities to reap the greatest rewards.
