When it comes to providing ride-sharing solutions, many have tried. Many still have failed. That is not, however, the case for Kiptoo Magutt and Winnie Biwott, the co-founders of Twende Carpool App.
For the completely obvious, Twende is a carpooling platform that connects drivers who have empty seats with passengers traveling in the same direction. Basically, it involves a driver with empty car seats giving lifts to people going the same route as them. Only you actually have to pay for the lift this time?.
Apart from providing a brilliant solution to the life-sucking congestion on Kenyan roads, it also enables you to ride in style and comfort not forgetting to arrive wherever you were going more conveniently.
But before we get down to the nitty-gritty, let’s first find out it works.
How Twende Carpool Works
The very first step is to download the application from Google Play store. Once installed, open the app. The user interface should appear like the picture above. The next step involves picking one of the two available options.
If you are a passenger looking for a ride, click the Find Trip button. The good thing with Twende app is the fact that you don’t even have to sign up. Once you click ‘Find Trip’, you will be asked to fill in a couple of details. These are your place, date and time of departure as well as your destination.
Up next, click find. The app will then run a search to find if there are any available rides. If not, they will send you a notification to inform you when one will be available.
If you are a driver, click the ‘offer trip’ button. You will then be asked to provide a couple of details for verification purposes. These include a copy of your ID, driver’s license and car insurance.
Once verified, you’ll be able to set up a profile and offer trips. When offering trips, you will be asked to fill out a form. This form indicates the travel date, time, place of departure, destination, the available number of seats and the cost.
So far, drivers have offered trips to long distance passengers traveling to Nairobi, Nakuru, Naivasha, Eldoret, Nanyuki, and Thika. The service is also functional in the Nairobi Metropolitan area from Imara Daima to CBD where it enables people to get to/from work hassle-free.
Twende app aims to reduce the pain of traveling upcountry by providing carpooling as an alternative means of transport. Twende is also enabling commuters within the Nairobi metropolitan area, starting with Imara Daima to CBD, to get to/from work hassle-free.
The Benefits of Twende
For starters, the platform like the ever-growing taxi-hailing service, is very convenient. This is because it eliminates two problems. You no longer have to physically go to the stage to check if cars are available. You also never have to stand in a longer than life queue waiting for a matatu. I’m sure you’ve come across such scenarios at Eldoret Crossroad and the North rift Shuttle booking offices. With Twende App, you can simply order or schedule a ride from the comfort of your home.
Secondly, Twende let’s you decide on the most ideal pick-up and drop-off points. This is provided most of the passengers are in consensus.
Thirdly, the platform enables you to meet new people, socialize and build your network without overwhelming you. Let’s just be honest. Entering a matatu where you have to sit with and listen to 13 other people can be overwhelming. The sound of crying babies, the mixture of scents and odors alike, the bickering and snoring of some passengers, yikes…. It can be a little much to handle. So while Twende enables you to associate with people, you only interact with say 4 or 8 other individuals which is manageable.
Fourthly, Twende gives you comfort and style. You are traveling in someone’s private car. This means you can expect it to be comfortable, clean and well maintained. Much unlike some unroadworthy matatus operating on Kenyan roads.
I could go on. I mean the app, thanks to these two brilliant and innovative youths, is single-handedly helping to solve road congestion and reduce the country’s carbon footprint. Dare we forget it is a huge step in creating a better green and sustainable Kenya. But you know what the Swahili say, “Chema chajiuza, kibaya chajitembeza.” Try Twende Carpool for your next trip and tell us how it goes.
Stephanie Maiyo
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