It’s kind of funny when you think that people who live in Kenya’s big cities like Nairobi and Mombasa take it for granted that Uber seems to be everywhere until they have to travel to other parts of the country. Indeed, some smaller cities and towns in Kenya have had Uber alternatives for years so it seems somewhat surprising that I got a press release this evening that Uber has launched operations in Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru, and Naivasha. This means that 8 cities and towns across Kenya now have Uber services on the ground.

Uber as a taxi-hailing app remains the gold standard from a consumer perspective in Kenya. Others like Bolt and Little have also made massive inroads in the market but for me and many consumers, Uber really is top of mind! It’s fairly obvious that Uber will be tapping into the leisure, business, and commuter travel segments in its new cities and towns across Kenya where a large customer base awaits. However, Uber still contends with lots of issues where unhappy drivers are concerned due to the large cut they take from their trips.

In the same press release, Uber has also launched UberXL in Nairobi which provides seating for up to 6 people and extra luggage and is great for airport trips and even for groups who are making a business trip. Uber has also launched ChapChap Share to help reduce costs for riders and increase demand for drivers as the option of a shared ride that gives up to 30% of savings on trips when a rider is paired with a co-rider.