This archive report was first published on 25 July 2019.
On July 25, 2019, Pioneer Credit, a Kenyan micro-lender, partnered with Little Cab to revolutionize the way taxi drivers acquire smartphones.
According to Little Cab Managing Director Alex Mwaura, "This is indeed a wonderful day for Little Cab drivers as they will have access to better mobile phones that will enable them to improve on their service delivery. We thank Pioneer Credit for being our partner in this wonderful project and are very confident that this partnership will be impactful to our drivers".
The service, dubbed "Pata Simu Lipa Mdogo Mdogo," allows drivers to acquire smartphones through a simple 3-minute application process. The platform offers five different models of phones ranging between Ksh. 10,000 to Ksh. 20,000.
Drivers can dial 454# to submit and verify their details before selecting one of the available phone models. They will then be directed to an outlet to pick up their handset within a matter of hours. The drivers will be able to pay for their phone via a daily or weekly charge for a period of three months.
Pioneer Credit Executive Chairman Evans Nyagah stated, "We are very confident that this product will benefit the taxi drivers. We are very happy to partner with little cab on this product. We aim to grow this product and expand to various regions within the county and potentially to the different Taxi companies that operate here in Kenya. This will enable all drivers across all taxi platforms have access to good quality phones that enable them to better carry out their businesses."
The two firms are also working with Kenya Orient to insure all the handsets from theft or damage to ensure business continuity for the drivers who mostly depend on their smartphones for daily business.
