This archive report was first published on 16 June 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, the demand for corporate transport services within the Nairobi Metropolitan region has seen a significant surge, according to experts in the field.
June 16, 2020 - The government's directives on reduced public transport capacity and corporate concerns over employee safety have been cited as the main drivers of this increased demand.
Pride Drive, a local corporate car hire company, has witnessed a substantial increase in corporate car hire requests, particularly for buses and vans, to transport workers from their places of work to their residences and back.
"The government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on our business, with a 20 percent increase in staff transportation interests from major Kenyan corporates," said Imtiaz Harunani, Pride Drive General Manager.
While all modes of transport are suffering losses due to limited operability, car rental services are expected to experience a post-coronavirus boom, with industry players anticipating increased demand as commuters turn away from public transport.
"Interest in corporate transport is set to rise as corporates seek alternatives to packed public transport services in fear of coronavirus spread," added Imtiaz.
However, the industry has seen a drop in the uptake of luxury vehicles, which were mostly hired by foreign business people who intended to stay in the country for a short period.
"Upon the government lifting the lockdown and other movement restrictions, we're anticipating increased demand for car hire of luxurious cars by people traveling to other counties for work or leisure," said Billy Muga, Pride Drive Sales Manager.
