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Little favours take Little drivers a long way
Kenya recently woke up to the hard truth of a perennial industrial action in its taxi space. Taxi drivers halted…
Kenya recently woke up to the hard truth of a perennial industrial action in its taxi space. Taxi drivers halted business as they packed vehicles demanding a pay rise and better working environment among other grievances.
This action however, did not affect Little cab drivers. Little customers continued hailing rides and for ‘Littlers’- as the little drivers are commonly known- it was business as usual. This disparity unlocked the curiosity of wanting to know what Little does differently in the Kenyan digital taxi industry.
A chat with the Chief Executive Officer of Craft Silicon, Kamal Budhabatti quickly gives the major pointers why Little customers may continue getting quality services even if other industry players are striking.
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“We were not affected at all by the strike, drivers were striking against underpayment but here we pay them (drivers) well,” says Budhabatti. He adds that they treat their drivers well as they are the face of the company.
A littler, Thomas Rono admits to the good pay and even says no littler would strike if the company does not oscillate the pay rate downwards.
“We are paid Ksh 35 per kilometer which is the highest rate in the Kenya. I have been operating another digital taxi platform, but I joined Little because of the better rates and many other exciting beneficial packages,” says Rono.
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Kamal also notes the company does many other little things to their drivers, what makes the drivers remain loyal to the company.
Soft Loans
Kamal says they offer emergency loans to drivers when in need. When drivers do not have money for fuel for example, they get loaned by the company.
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Rono is quick to point out the fact that they are never charged interest on the loans. He says, “We get the money and pay it back to the company when we are out of that tough situation”. Thomas Rono, Littler.
Security
Little have partnered with KK security to enhance security for their drivers and clients. There is an SOS button on the driver’s app, with which a driver presses anytime he/she feels to be in a security compromised situation. When pressed, a security personnel from KK is alerted who then comes to the rescue of the driver and or the client.
“We Love and take care of our drivers. And when we love and care about them, they in turn care about our riders. That is why they will continue providing our retail and corporate clients a complete reliable ride every time.” Kamal
“We Love and take care of our drivers. And when we love and care about them, they in turn care about our riders. That is why they will continue providing our retail and corporate clients a complete reliable ride every time.” Kamal
Little Sacco
Littlers are encouraged to earn and save in the Little sacco. This encourages financial discipline and also development as one can take up a loan says Rono. He also tells me that the Sacco has enabled him and other Littlers think and act like entrepreneurs. He says that drivers can save for a better future.
Free computer lessons
Little offers free computer lessons to the children of their drivers every weekend. The program, dubbed Smart Little Drivers, target children between 7 and 13 years. It is intended to equip the children with relevant and practical ICT skills intended to nurture technology competences as they grow up.
Mr. Budhabatti acknowledges a vision of making Little the number one taxi hailing service provider in Kenya, across East Africa the entire African Continent.
So far, Little has penetrated into Uganda, Tanzania and now Zambia.