Just before the noise about Uber calms down, new taxi service “Mondo Ride” is rigorously recruiting drivers in Nairobi to its system and promising them better perks than its counterparts.For passengers, Mondo Ride says it’s ‘the only app that offers its consumers the ability to accept or block drivers based on the details of their profile” as well as the ability to allow them to text them than just call.
Instead of just hailing like in Uber and Easy Taxi and MaraMoja Transport, Mondo Ride, which is also available in Saudi Arabia, says it has a unique “Mondo Ride Caller” device for customers to call and order safe and reliable taxis from the city’s hotels, malls, and premium locations with a single click.
To sign up to Mondo Ride, users download the app, then a private SMS code is send to them. Each first ride is Ksh 500 off. Mondo has both cabs and Motorcycles, something Uber has started doing in India-its emerging markets experiment lab. Kenya’s MaraMoja Transport also has both cabs and Motorcycles.
TechMoran is yet to establish how cheap or expensive and how effective “Mondo Ride” is. But the app’s design is no different from the rest, however, Uber stands out with its pricing system. Easy Taxi, which launched here first is said to have the most number of drivers but some of the passengers say it hasn’t covered all parts of Nairobi. It’s technology is also good.
Mondo Ride says that when a user blocks a driver, the app instantly connects them with another driver nearby. This might be helpful than just reporting and poorly rating a creepy driver who might always be in your location. It also allows users to pay in cash after arriving at your destination.