Intercity bus booking platform looks to connect Africa

AfriKonekta, an online bus booking platform has unveiled a countrywide intercity digital bus booking platform that allows passengers to book a bus ticket to major destinations around the country from as low as sh148.

The platform has also integrated parcel delivery services targeting SMEs, online merchants and person to person (P2P) delivery services.

According to Tichaona Dande, the AfriKonekta CEO, the platform seeks to build a connected Africa, broader and deeper regional and continental integration.

The platform targets long distance bus operators plying from Nairobi to other towns and vice versa.

AfriKonekta currently covers over 37 destinations including, Mombasa, Moyale, Nakuru, Malindi, Busia, Sori, Bungoma, Butere, Siaya, Homabay, Kapenguria, L.Turkana, Bondo, Kisii, Oyugis, Migori, Usenge, Luanda, Ukwala Port, Mumias, Kitale, Mbale, Malaba, Kakuma, Nyamira, Kakamega, Eldoret, Kisumu, among others.

The startup has signed about twenty (22) bus operators such as Msamaria Mwema, Nya Ugenya, Salama Bus, Transline Kemera Sacco, Promise Buses, We Travellers Sacco, Eldoret Express, among others.

"We are looking to sign up more players, launch operations in Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Rwanda by early next year," according to Dande, this move is aimed at expanding its East Africa connectivity, continental coverage, and strengthening its inventory of partner operators.

"Our commitment is to deliver a revolutionary means of travel that makes long distance travel in Africa a tech-powered and attractive option. We have studied the best practices of global platforms, added our comprehensive expertise of the long-distance bus industry, and adapted the service to the African market needs," Dande.

The service, which can be accessed on an App, Web, WhatsApp or via a toll-free phone call will allow travellers to book their tickets, choose seats and pay digitally, cutting the need to visit physical bus booking stations.

Dande further notes that Intercity bus travel is an area of untapped potential in Africa.

"AfriKonekta's key partners are small and medium size bus operators. These operators typically don't have access to modern digital tools. Digitalization accelerates their business growth, gives them more efficient sales channels, better customer experience, better visibility to actual sales, and tools to predict demand and use their vehicles more effectively," Dande expressed his optimism.

Before setting up in Kenya, the company which was established in 2021, says it had to understand specific needs of Kenyan operators as well as passengers thus the 6 six months' pilot, where the company sold45,000 tickets. had to understand specific needs of Kenyan operators as well as local passengers. During the 6 months' pilot phase the company sold over 45 000 tickets.