With the digital economy rapidly growing, apps like Uber can enable economic revival while providing earning opportunities to drivers. These opportunities have enhanced features, unique partnerships and structured support.
Women are now able to enter a traditionally male-dominated industry, giving them increased spending power and access to economic opportunity.
Since launching in the region in 2015, Uber’s technology has made a significant impact in creating entrepreneurship opportunities for women drivers on the app in Kenya.
Two female Uber drivers, Mercy and Jane, reflect on why they joined and continue to drive with Uber in Kenya.
1. Mercy – Mercy joined Uber almost one and-a-half years ago after losing her job as an administrator. She decided to join the platform after speaking to a few women she knows who are Uber driver-partners and it sounded like a good opportunity. She enjoys the flexibility of being an Uber driver and explains that she starts accepting trips between 06:30 – 07:30 a.m., depending on what she has on her schedule for the morning. She also enjoys driving with Uber because the app exposes her to locations in Mombasa she has never visited before, and she gets to meet new people every day and experience different cultures.
2. Jane – Jane also joined Uber after losing her job and sitting home for five months due to unemployment. Before driving with Uber, Jane was a volunteer driver and then worked as a driver for a Nairobi family for a few months, and so explains that driving comes naturally to her. Jane has been an Uber driver for almost four years and has a rating of 4.93 which she believes is a testament to her good service and reliability as a driver.
When asked about what she appreciates most about driving with Uber she says, “Uber’s customer care service is good to me as a driver and our customers. In case of anything, they are always able to sort it out”.
With the Uber business model, women can tackle their tasks with ease as they are in control of their schedules. Not only has Uber created a platform for a new breed of entrepreneurs, but are gender-inclusive with their offering. This ultimately contributes to the empowerment of women in Kenya, and across Africa.