After completing their university studies in computer science, classmates Ngugi Waithima and Denis Kiprono looked for jobs in vain.
In June, the two former students of computer science at Mount Kenya University met in a Nairobi office in a job-hunting mission. Later over a cup of tea, they discussed their challenges in search of non-existent jobs. Their talk shifted to escalating traffic jams in Nairobi and the problems people face when travelling over the festive season.
It’s from their traffic discussion that they hit some sort of Eureka moment. They mooted the idea of an app that connects travelers and people driving personal cars.
“We felt it was a workable and unique idea. We started working on the idea right away but we encountered a number of setbacks such as lack of computers, internet connections, and an office,” says Mr Ngugi. “I approached my area Member of County Assembly David Maitai, discussed the idea and the challenges with him and he agreed to host us at Central Empowerment Center, a youth resource and training centre in Ndaragua Town,” he says.
That is how their app dubbed Share Fare App was born. Although the innovation was rolled out two months ago, it has rapidly gained traction. In Nyandarua, most of those who have embraced the idea are county and national government employees who travel between home and places of work.
