In Nairobi’s fast-paced ride-hailing industry, a quiet revolution is happening – driven by women who are taking back control of their time, income and mobility.
Once dominated by male drivers, platforms like Uber and Bolt are now attracting more and more female drivers. Many of these women are mothers, former corporate professionals or small business owners. They’re joining ride-hailing not just to earn a living but to have flexibility, independence and stability in an uncertain job market.
Breaking Barriers: Why Women Are Joining Ride-Hailing
For most women entering the sector, it’s a necessity – but it quickly becomes a choice. Ride-hailing offers more autonomy than traditional employment. Drivers can choose when and where to work, so they can plan around school runs, caregiving duties or side hustles.
In Margaret Kinyua’s case, it all started with a favour. A friend asked her to drive an Uber car she couldn’t operate. That was in 2019 and it marked the beginning of a journey that has transformed Margaret’s financial life. Today she juggles motherhood with Nairobi’s crazy roads, working during the day and taking care of her children in the evenings.
“The flexibility keeps me going. I work when I want and I’m fully present for my children,” she says.
But it’s not without challenges. Margaret now rents the car she drives for Sh1,500 per day after hers was damaged in an accident. She says increased competition and reduced ride demand has made it harder to survive. Still she’s hopeful and is considering moving to Dubai where the pay and benefits are reportedly better.
Turning Setbacks into Startups
For Mary Namunyak, ride-hailing was a lifeline after she was laid off in 2023. With over a decade of experience in customer service, the switch to driving might seem drastic – but for Mary it was the first step towards entrepreneurship.
After getting her PSV certification, she started driving for Uber. But soon she saw an opportunity in her neighbourhood: school transport. By offering safe and reliable transport for children, she not only earned more stable income but also gained trust and support from the community.
“Uber helped me pay the bills but the school transport business gave me purpose,” Mary says. She plans to expand and eventually hire drivers to scale her services.She says safety is key. She doesn’t take on risky passengers and sets boundaries. Like many other female drivers, she wants more support from ride-hailing companies on safety and driver pay.
Challenges That Still Need Addressing
Despite all the progress, women drivers face:
- Low earnings: Commission structures eat into daily profits.
- Safety risks: Night shifts are dangerous for women.
- No benefits: No health insurance, retirement plans or paid leave.
- High operational costs: Fuel, maintenance and vehicle leasing still eats into profits.
Uber and Bolt need to relook their models if they want to support this growing female workforce. Women are not just filling a gap – they’re shaping the industry.
Final Thoughts
Nairobi’s ride-hailing space is no longer a boys’ club. It’s a space where women are writing their own futures with grit, innovation and hustle. Whether it’s driving kids to school, running an Airbnb on the side or planning to move abroad, these women are not waiting for doors to open – they’re building their own.
If ride-hailing platforms want to keep this valuable workforce, they need to address safety concerns, pay fairly and create more inclusive support systems.
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