SafeBoda, Uganda’s leading ride-hailing company, has officially confirmed its return to Nairobi, Kenya after a three year hiatus. With a renewed commitment to safety, trust, and reliability, SafeBoda is reintroducing its bike-hailing services to the Kenyan market, including the exciting addition of SafeCar, a safe ride-hailing solution for the city.
Launched in 2014 in Kampala, Uganda by Alastair Sussock, Ricky Thompson, Maxime Dieudonne and Clarisse Iribagiza of HeHe Labs, SafeBoda wants to be the ‘Uber’ of Africa and has steadily grown to add more verticals to its app to become a super app.
SafeBoda first launched in Nairobi, Kenya in 2018 before it called it quits due to adverse effects on COVID-19 to its business and the general business environment globally. SafeBoda was fairly new in the Kenyan market when COVID-19 hit and it made perfect sense to pause its operations instead of burning cash.
With over 1.2 million satisfied customers and 50 million rides completed, SafeBoda believes this is the right time to return to Nairobi to replicate its success and provide Kenyan commuters with the same trusted service with Safety as a key pillar for success.
In a statement, Rob Sanford, CEO of SafeBoda, “We are finally back in Nairobi, a city that holds a special place for SafeBoda. Our mission has always been to make transportation safer and more convenient for everyone, and with the launch of SafeCar, we are taking another step towards achieving that goal. We believe that Kenyans deserve access to reliable and affordable transportation options, and SafeBoda is committed to delivering just that. Since the announcement of our return, we have received very positive sentiments from our former drivers and passengers and we are happy to deliver them back to serve them again.”
SafeCar, which was launched in Kampala, Uganda in September 2012, is the latest addition to SafeBoda’s portfolio of services in Kenya, promising passengers the convenience of ordering car rides alongside traditional boda rides, providing a seamless and efficient transportation solution for urban commuters. With SafeCar, the firm promises that passengers can expect the same level of safety, reliability, and affordability that SafeBoda is known for, now extended to car transportation.
Frida Mwaura, COO of SafeBoda, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the company’s dedication to safety and customer satisfaction. “At SafeBoda, safety is our top priority and with the introduction of SafeCar, we are raising the bar for safety standards in the ride-hailing industry. Our drivers undergo rigorous training and adhere to strict safety protocols to ensure that every ride with SafeBoda or SafeCar is a safe and comfortable experience for passengers. As a company, we have always believed that the driver comes first, and that happy drivers lead to happy passengers.”
SafeBoda adds that it has a renewed focus on safety, innovation, and customer satisfaction and aims to make a significant impact on Kenya’s transportation landscape and improve the lives of millions of commuters across the city.
Google made its investment from its Africa Investment Fund which was launched by Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, at Google for Africa in October. Other investors include GoVentures (GoJek), Allianz X, Unbound, Beenext and Justin Kan. SafeBoda had previously raised investments from Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) and Global Innovation Fund.