Ghafla Chit Chat: 5 Things Traditional Taxis Can Do to Beat Off the Uber Wave

We are no business server but we just had to jump on this; the whole Uber menace. As you all probably know, the mobile ride hail company which launched in 2009 and which is headquartered in San Francisco, California made an entry into the Kenyan market much to the agony of traditional taxis.

Not something to write home about as the same has happened in many other parts in the world. The Yellow Taxi service in San Francisco for example is reportedly closing down because according to management, Uber has officially taken them out of business.

Now why the Kenyan case is quite unique is the fact that it has ceased to be just something to make memes about on twitter but an issue that now requires the various authoritative facets to intervene starting with the police department and soon to be followed by the office of Public Prosecutions. This follows a grotesque event which happened last night when a group of unknown assailants blocked an uber vehicle after it had dropped a passenger, torched it into flames and beat the life out of the driver. Only God knows what would have happened to the passenger if they were caught up in the drama.

Now bearing in mind this is not the first time such an attack has been initiated on Uber, it means we have a problem, a galactic one for that matter and it looks as if nobody has come forward to offer a sustainable solution. Because yes, there are many people out here making a living out the taxi business and yes, just like the rest of us; they have bills to pay and it’s not fair for some American start-up to just come and overlook that fact.

It is also ignorant of them to think that things will always be the same that they can continue to exploit and offer substantial services and we’ll just sit there and watch all in the name of supporting our own. In addition, competition is healthy and instead of coming up with savage ways to fight it, why not try to match up.

I’m thinking majority of them don’t know how so here is my two cents to go about it:

Taxi Meters:

This has been something in the pipeline as reported by business daily a few weeks back that Nairobi County would be embarking on a plan to implement Taxi meters in Nairobi cabs to regulate the mostly exorbitant prices rampant with traditional taxis. Now, I think you have an organization which can fast track and ensure it’s implemented ASAP because you are seriously losing out. Your fares most of the time are purely dependent on the mood at that particular point in time or the money problems you are currently facing. So when I approach you asking to hitch a ride to Westlands, you quote 700 bob knowing very well that’s overpriced. But since you know I’m desperate and I’m limited for choice, you just sit there and watch as I grapple to make a decision. Now Thank God for Uber which uses GPRS technology to calculate fare for me and in this case fare to Westlands comes to roughly 300 bob.

Vehicles:

You Taxi driver parked along Moi Avenue take a second and look at the good condition present with Uber cars. They are more often than not new and in perfect condition which is something every customer is looking forward to. You don’t want to take a taxi so that to get into a meeting on time only for it to break down halfway there because the owner wasn’t responsible enough to check the oil before he left for work in the morning. When was the last time you ever took the car down for a wash or service? Your guess is as good as mine.

That Little Thing Called Hygiene:

Uber drivers normally pay keen attention to their appearance and grooming. They understand very well that image is everything so more often than not they will ensure that they wear a clean shirt with an equally clean pair of socks to march. And it won’t end there, they will also go ahead to garnish that with a lot of courtesy and sometimes a bottle of water if you get lucky. As a customer, you feel like you are really getting value for your money and you won’t hesitate to use that service again. Plus I doubt if many of us like to put up with a driver who smokes and rubs their genitals while in transit.

The Know Factor:

A few months back, we ran the story of One Ann Mbaru, a contestant in the coveted Big Brother Africa. Apparently she had found herself in hot soup when a taxi driver threatened to rape her. This happened when she was chucking a popular club in Westlands to go meet up with a friend in another club. That episode left her traumatized and attracted the attention of a number of media outlets. She was seeking justice but it wasn’t as easy. Considering she was a bit tipsy when the incident happened, she couldn’t remember the intricate details of the driver and the car in question and with that she had no case to argue in court. The said offender is probably out here committing the same offence to numerous innocent girls across Nairobi knowing very well he cannot be traced.

Uber on the hand makes sure that all the details of your driver are all there to peruse. His name, contact number and even his car number plate. Now if they dared try anything, getting them would be easy as 1, 2, and 3.

Lastly, traditional drivers need also to embrace technology if they are to survive this Uber wave.  The reason I subscribe to the service myself is the fact that it’s easily accessible; that I don’t have to worry when I make my way to out of town neighbourhoods and bars that are not accessible to matatus and even normal taxis. Can you imagine yourself in a house party somewhere in a gated estate in the middle of Kitusuru and you want to go home? And you are drunk and nobody is interested in walking you to the nearby shopping centre to get a taxi? Of course your phone becomes your savior.

And with the high penetration of smart phones in the country which currently stands at 67% , Kenya Taxi Association should be busy coming up with innovative solutions to tap into this instead of wasting time holding press conferences.