Road transportation serves as Kenya’s pivotal connection between all economic sectors and its citizenry, accounting for over 80% of the nation’s total passenger and freight transportation and output value. As the predominant transit mode, road transportation’s extensive reach, reliability, and accessibility, bridging diverse regions, are central to daily commutes. A significant fraction of Kenyans heavily utilize this public transport system, which is primarily dominated by the informal sector, popularly referred to as ‘paratransit’. This sector comprises private entities operating varied transport options like matatus (buses, mini-buses, and vans), motorcycles (boda boda), bicycles, and tricycles (tuk tuk).

According to a study, 32% of Kenyans rely on public transport for their daily commutes and travel needs, coming second to walking which is at 47%. However, the current ticketing systems in Kenya’s transportation sector and the broader East African market is highly inefficient. Manual booking processes, long queues, double booking, lack of transparency in pricing, and cash leakages, which is a top pain point, continue to pose challenges to passengers and bus operators alike.

Frustration at the booking stations: a struggle of seats and trust

Passengers in Kenya, trying to secure transportation, often find themselves making the exhausting journey to physical booking centers. The lines are excessive, and precious hours are lost in the pursuit of a simple bus ticket. Coupled with an opaque pricing structure, passengers are left wondering if they are receiving fair value…..

Content retrieved from: https://aptantech.com/2023/08/08/the-true-cost-of-poor-ticketing-services-in-africas-transport-sector/#respond.