This archive report was first published on 4 August 2019.
On August 4, 2019, Safaricom-backed ride-hailing firm Little launched a bus transportation service on the Nairobi, Naivasha, and Nakuru route, marking its entry into the public transport market.
According to Little's Chief Executive Kamal Budhabhatti, the firm has rolled out 12 shuttle buses for the route, with plans to expand to major upcountry destinations in the future.
The bus service will charge a flat fare of Sh450 on the Nairobi-Naivasha-Nakuru route for daily trips, which is significantly lower than the Sh250-Sh300 charged by matatus for the same route.
Little's move is aimed at disrupting the public transit market by offering a more efficient and safer service, with fewer stops and higher quality standards.
Matatus, which have been criticized for their unruly behavior and aggressive pricing practices, are privately owned and operated by touts and drivers.
Little's entry into the public transport market comes as the firm continues to operate a mass transport shuttle service along several routes in Nairobi, launched earlier this year.
