In an age where a finger swipe can summon a ride and algorithms dictate the cost, a quiet band of traditional taxi drivers in Nairobi are still doing business the old-fashioned way—by handshake, phone call, and trust.
They don’t appear on apps. Their cars don’t flash on maps. Yet long before “ride-hailing” became a buzzword, these drivers ferried diplomats, tourists, families, and executives across the city.
John Karanja is one of them. He doesn’t use ride-hailing platforms, scan QR codes, or ask whether you’ll pay by M-Pesa. What he offers is less common in today’s transport scene: reliability, honesty, and personal connection.
“I’ve been in this business nine years,” says the soft-spoken driver. Before that, he worked as a company driver, hopping between short contracts. Tired of the instability, he bought a vehicle and struck out on his own.
Back then, business was steady. “You’d park somewhere and clients would come,” he recalls. But with the arrival of Uber, Bolt, and Little Cab, everything changed. His car doesn’t meet the age or model requirements for app registration, so he stayed off the platforms.
On good days, John pockets up to Sh10,000. Even slow days bring in Sh3,000. His steady clientele includes business travellers and families who prize trust and consistency. “If someone forgets a phone, they call me. I return it,” he says. “They can’t always say the same about app drivers.”
John Karanja, a traditional taxi driver poses for a photo along Muindi Mbingu street in Nairobi on July 3, 2025.
Photo credit: Evans Habil | Nation Media Group
He sets his fares upfront, based on distance and fuel—not digital surge pricing. Still, he battles the perception that traditional taxis are overpriced. “People don’t realise apps often subsidise fares. I can’t afford to charge less than my cost,” he explains.
Ironically, the tech-driven systems that disrupted his trade also send customers his way. “When an app driver cancels or delays, people call me. They know I’ll show up,” he says.
David Mbugua echoes that resilience. A taxi driver for over eight years, he was once a storekeeper in Industrial Area. The move to taxis wasn’t planned—it was necessary.
When Uber entered the market, David began losing regular customers to its Sh150 fares, undercutting his Sh500 charge for the same trip. “You can’t fight that with fuel prices the way they are,” he says.
David never tried to join the apps. His car is too old, and frankly, he enjoys the independence. “No targets, no penalties, no pressure.”
Instead, he built a client base the old-school way—with business cards and hotel partnerships. “Most of my customers are foreigners, diplomats, or families. They want space and someone they know,” he says.
For him, the appeal of traditional taxis is simple: experience, trust, and privacy. “Some people don’t want their trips tracked. They want discretion,” he notes.
David Mbugua, a taxi driver, during an interview beside his car on Koinange Street, Nairobi on July 4, 2025.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
He’s watched peers leave the industry or chase apps. But for David, success lies in staying true to his values. “This job has educated my kids. My lastborn is married. I’ve built a life from it.”
Stephen Kimani, in the trade for over 25 years, has also watched the city change. A former electrician, he switched to driving in the '90s for the daily earnings and freedom it offered.
“There are days I sit in the car and don’t get a single client,” he says. But he still shows up, driven more by routine and purpose than necessity. “My children are grown. I just need enough for me and my wife.”
When ride-hailing apps emerged, Stephen declined to join. “Too many rules. Long hours. It wasn’t for me,” he says.
He acknowledges that digital disruption is real. “There will come a time when traditional taxis won’t be needed. But for now, some people still want that personal connection.”
That’s what keeps him going. “Not everyone wants a stranger from an app. Some still want someone they know.”
Martin Njoroge, on the other hand, joined the industry during the rise of apps but chose a different path. Formerly a businessman in Kamukunji, he now drives a hired car daily, splitting profits with the owner after expenses.
Martin Njoroge, a traditional taxi driver poses for a photo along Muindi Mbingu street in Nairobi on July 3, 2025.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
“It was a level playing field at first,” he says. “But I stuck to traditional taxis for more control.” He doesn’t mind the long hours because they pay off—especially on long-distance trips that many app drivers avoid.
He recalls earning up to Sh10,000 a day in the early days. “Now, it’s more like Sh4,000. But I stay because of loyal customers. They know me. That’s what matters.”
Martin’s wife now manages their Kamukunji shop, offering a financial safety net when the taxi hustle slows. It’s a balance many traditional drivers don’t have.
