Hallo good people.

I have been ignoring this business of hailing cabs through an app but after watching the French cab drivers riots yesterday, now am very curious.

Its clear this is a classic disruptive innovation. How is it doing locally ? Have they gained traction ? I know the average taxi user in Kenya relies on cab guy they know. Problem is they are unreliable and damn exploitative. Its a battle between familiarity and convenience.

I want to start by downloading the app, but my eyes are fixed on investing in this business.

In 2007, a safcom guy was telling me how i could register a company and start a money transfer business they had just started. I remember a company called sasanet starting mobile m-pesa kiosks in town and at KNH.

I don't want to be telling friends 10 years from now how i watched the taxi business revolution from the sidelines.

seems like he was fired (together with the fish) and now he's looking for a source of income.

Kenyan taxi drivers have launched their own version of the ongoing global revolt against taxi hailing service Uber, arguing that its pricing model is driving them out of business.

The taxi drivers last Thursday warned of an impending attack on Uber partners, prompting the US tech firm that owns the service to alert its Kenyan associates to move with care.

INTIMIDATION AND HARASSMENT

“We have received reports of isolated intimidation and harassment of our partner-drivers at the Oval — a commercial building complex — in Nairobi’s Westlands,” Uber said in a message sent to partner-drivers.

“Please be alert and aware in this area by concealing your Uber device and ensuring that your pick-ups and drop-offs take place in public, well lit areas,” said Samantha Allenberg, the spokesperson for Uber Africa, adding that the company was working with the relevant stakeholders in Nairobi to ensure the negative experience is not repeated.

Kenyan taxi operators are opposed to Uber’s pricing model, which cuts by more than half what they have been charging commuters in central Nairobi.

So they are not even fighting with a better product, they want to use force like in France?

The fact is Uber is the next corporate. Sorry, not next, the current model for anyone who wants to start a corporation. They are not only challenging taxis, their business model is challenging the current notion of taxation. They pay little to no tax in the US due to its internationalized tax structure. Google kidogo.

As for Kenyan taxis creating their own, man first they have to create a website.

Any business that thinks that they shall survive in the next 50yrs with the current business models has just dug its grave. And that means all.

If Uber is scary, they should take a look at some of the startups being created from everything from taxis to underwear that are following the same journey.