This archive report was first published on 1 October 2019.
Published on October 1, 2019, the shutdown of Little Shuttle has raised eyebrows in the public transport sector.
The service, which allowed riders to book a seat and board at specific times, was modeled after the Bus Rapid Transport System and had gained popularity in Nairobi.
However, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) Director General Francis Meja stated that Little Shuttle and SWVL were operating illegally without the required PSV licenses.
According to Meja, the vehicles under these hailing app companies had acquired Tours Service License (TSL) but were engaging in commuter service within Nairobi, contravening the terms of the Tour Service License (TSL).
Little Shuttle's CEO, Kamal Budhabhatti, disputed the claims, stating that they were properly licensed and would not have been running the service for the last three quarters if they did not have proper documents.
Budhabhatti questioned why there had been no consultation before their license was revoked and expressed disappointment that the government had not taken a similar approach to the introduction of MPesa, which was allowed to operate without interference.
The shutdown of Little Shuttle has elicited mixed reactions on social media, with some users expressing support for the decision and others criticizing the government for derailing the efforts of businesses like Little Shuttle.
