Hi Wazuans,

i have a toyota corolla year 2004 in very good condition and iv been thinking of how to make it start generating something small for me. Anyone who knows a taxi company taking up cars of that age? what is the return? what is the risk? and any other pointers..

Rather you keep your car and run something on your own !
These threads would help you with some insights into what you are looking at

1. Wazua » SME » Ideas » Car hire

2. Wazua » SME » Ideas » Leasing a car to a Cab company- Pros n cons?

3.azua » Groups » Advice » Car Hire Biashara

Matatu business is not for the faint hearted or the uninitiated. The stress can kill you. You would rather get a driver - like your cab guy or the cab guy of a friend and get into an arrangement - He uses the car and gives you a fixed amount daily and also agree on maintenance and other cost breakdown. Getting a relatively dependable person will be the challenge!

And if you are new to the biz everyone will take advantage of you from the crew to the traffic police to the Mungiki etc.

Rule of thumb - Matatu haitakagi mtu wa ofisi. The crew will be lying to you because they know you can't leave the office every time. Gari imeshikwa, wanataka 10k. Gari imeharibu bla bla bla, tuko garage.

At the beginning, they will not lie so much but once you get tired of leaving the office every time, then they take you to the dry cleaners! And even if you randomly decide to go, they rope in the mechanic/police man into the plan.

Matatu inataka mtu hands on!!

I do not mean to be rude but those are theories. Infact, I dare you to do it. Keep chasing paper like that and you will end up groping at shadows. Then some journalist will write a story about how chaotic the industry is and use you as a case study.

I am in no way supporting paperchaser but whatever he described happens everyday.
Route 25 Nairobi -Baba Dogo /Lucky summer estate ,there are unmarked vans/no conductor that are stationed at Khoja Roundabout terminus this has been going on for almost an year now .Just check the place every day from 7pm karibu na the toilet and you will be amazed by the number.
The same happens in Westlands to Kangemi everyday from 4pm just outside ChildFund Office.The hustle is real.

This is not the normal matatu biz bro..... all you need as from 7 PM is just a driver.....makanga will fill up the car at the stage and you will give them 100/=. the car makes two trips to and fro mtaani...by 11 the driver returns the car on weekdays and at 2 AM on weekends. There is no room for manipulation like the daytime matatu!!

The hustle is real man...remind our brother above

Chaka, the hustle is real.very real

Plys walevi routes Buru/umoja/Koma every friday, Sato and Sundays - odd hours from 11pm into the night. Convinient because they at times accomodate requests for drop offsom the main route na unaongeza kitu kidogo. Cheaper than taxis!