As the deadline to adopt cashless payment of matatu fares draws near, the Matatu Owners Association and Matatu Welfare Association has teamed up with the technology firm, Fibre Space Limited to provide payment cards that will be used by commuters.
Known as 1963, the card has been piloted on vehicles plying Ngong road, Eastlands and Waiyaki-Kikuyu routes with confidence that it is ready for the market. The association chairman also added that the card would help investors control their cash flows, increase revenue and reduce losses.
The 1963 card is the latest entrant in a field that has attracted a number of firms seeking a piece of the millions generated by the matatu industry daily.
Safaricom’s Lipa na M-Pesa, Google in partnership with Equity Beba Pay a Hong Kong firm Tap-to-Pay that is working with the Kenya Bus Service to pilot a pre-paid plastic called Abiria Card, are also in the cashless payment market.
July has been set as the deadline for matatus to stop using cash payments and instead adopt electronic transaction modes for passengers to pay fares.
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