This archive report was first published on 15 May 2020.
May 15, 2020 - A innovative mobile application has been launched in Kenya to provide stranded drivers with quick access to mechanic support.
The application, Mechanic On Call, available on Play Store, connects drivers to mechanics and towing services, eliminating the need for lengthy periods of anxious wait.
According to Agnes Mutua, the application's developer, drivers can access the services of mechanics within a range of 5km to 100km.
"It took a long time trying to understand the severity of their breakdown and dispatch a mechanic to that point. There was need to create a quick assistance and offer solution," Mutua said.
The platform provides drivers with real-time information on the distance their preferred mechanic would need to travel and the estimated time it would take them to arrive.
"The extension search helps you to know how far the services are and how long you have to wait so that you can figure out if it’s worth waiting," Mutua explained.
The application charges Sh250 per call and boasts of a resourceful human resource, with all the mechanics incorporated in the application having undergone accreditation processes.
Over 60 mechanics have signed up since the platform was unveiled in December 2019.
The application offers services for all types of vehicles, including large commercial vehicles dealing in cargo and logistics business.
Developers are banking on building trust among its client base, given the deep-rooted suspicions on mechanics.
"People on the road don’t trust mechanics and they suspect they could be criminals," Mutua noted.
The platform’s developer is also working to integrate cashless mobile money payments.
