This archive report was first published on 3 October 2019.
On October 1, 2019, Little Shuttle's operations were halted due to a communication from the authorities, stating that the company's license was not the right kind.
Little Shuttle's CEO, Kamal Budhabhatti, wrote a heartfelt letter to his employees, expressing his disappointment and frustration with the situation.
He explained that the company had been running point-to-point shuttle services on its Little App, with thousands of riders using the platform daily. The service was efficient, reliable, and safe, with shuttles often fully booked.
Budhabhatti acknowledged that the authorities were doing their job, but wished for a more collaborative approach, similar to the one taken when Safaricom launched M-Pesa. He hoped that the authorities would work together with technology companies to revolutionize public transportation in Kenya.
Despite the setback, Budhabhatti remained optimistic, stating that challenges like these would not shake the dreams of Kenyans. He apologized to the riders for the inconvenience and asked them to make alternative arrangements for their daily commute.
Little Shuttle's shutdown was a significant blow to the company's plans to become a pan-African mobility provider. However, the CEO's letter serves as a testament to the company's commitment to innovation and its desire to make a positive impact on the country's transportation system.
