A team of two guys in Nairobi are working on a startup called Clad Light with plans to launch probably Africa’s first wearable and interactive electronics.
Founded by Joseph Muchene, a Certified Public Accountant – Kenya, and Charles Muchene,with a Bachelors of Engineering in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from The Technical University of Kenya, the Clad Light brothers are working on wearable electronics to help bicycle riders in East Africa to improve their visibility, day or night, while clearly showing intents to turn left, right or brake to avoid road accidents, which stand at over 3,000 to 10,000 a year according to WHO.
The startup, under incubation at Nailab, a Narobi-based incubator-accelerator says its reflective, indicator jackets would be used not just by ‘bodaboda’ riders but could be used for safety at assembly plants, warehouses, machine rooms among others. It’s major target however is the increasing population of the youthful motorcycle owners, motorcycle bodaboda riders and fitness enthusiasts.
The indicator jackets are fitted with a transmission device which is integrated to the motorcycle’s lighting or indication system. When a rider brakes, the device relays the signals to the jacket wirelessly and turns on the lights on the jacket to warn the approaching car or rider that his colleague is about to either branch-off or stop. A single jacket can be used by anyone on any motorbike.
Clad Light might not have launched their jackets yet but in two years, Charles anticipates the startup would have covered the East African region, supplying and maintaining indicator reflective jackets. They are looking for seed funding to put Clad Light on steroids.