A Kenyan mobile app called Fikisha is designed to let users order condoms, lubricants and other wellness products from their phones and have them delivered discreetly.
The developers say the service was built to remove the embarrassment some people feel when buying condoms over the counter. They say it works in a similar way to a taxi-hailing app, but instead of booking a ride, users place an order for sexual and reproductive health products.
Gladys Muthike, the head of sales at Ad Visions, said the app was meant to improve on Dial-a-Condom. She said the earlier service sometimes struggled to locate customers who had requested delivery.
“This is an improvement from Dial-a-Condom because we realised that sometimes we could not locate a customer who called to request a condom delivery. With the app, we can see where the client is and deliver,” said Gladys Muthike.
Laban Muruthi, the programme manager, said the target market is young people, who he described as more comfortable with technology and more likely to use the service.
“The youth have been facing stigma when it comes to buying condoms over the counter. We expect that because they embrace technology better, this app will make more sense to them,” said Mr Muruthi.
How the app works ¶
Users download Fikisha from the App Store or Play Store, then register using a name or nickname and a phone number. After logging in, they can choose the product they want delivered, including different brands and types of condoms.
The app also allows orders for lubricants and other wellness products. Muruthi said the order is then sent to the nearest driver or sales agent, with delivery expected within an hour.
To protect privacy, the products are delivered in a plain, unlabelled envelope.
The developers said demand for condoms is highest on weekends and among office workers who want discretion when buying such items.
Fikisha is also expected to expand into reproductive health information, pregnancy test kits and HIV self-testing kits.
Muruthi said the platform could also create jobs for young people as sales agents or drivers, but only after accreditation and orientation.
“This app will also create employment for the youth who can be sales agents or drivers. We’ll need to accredit them first before they are activated and given proper orientation as drivers,” Muruthi said.
HIV prevention push ¶
The developers said the service is aimed at making condoms and related products easier to access, especially for users who avoid public purchase because of stigma.
They said Kenya HIV Private Business Council and the National Aids Control Council, together with other partners, have supported the app in the hope that it will help address that barrier.
According to data from the National Aids Control Council, young people in Kenya account for 50 per cent of new HIV infections, with 125 young people infected every day.
The developers said they hoped Fikisha would help close that gap and become part of the response to HIV infections in the country.
