The role and potential of the taxi mode of transport in the city of Nairobi, Kenya: a Geographical analysis

Abstract

The ever increasing role of transport in the world today led the researcher to carry out a study on taxi mode of transport in the City of Nairobi (CoN), Kenya. The framework of this research dealt with the roles and potential of the taxi mode of transport in the CoN. It is intended to develop background material for consideration in on urban transportation. The main objectives of the study was to examine the taxis' operational characteristics,analyze the factors determining their locations, assess their extent of operation, discuss their complementary role amidst other modes of urban transport. and suggest ways of improving their services.Various questionnaires were used to elicit information from respondents. The main questionnaire was administered to 123 respondents (Taxi operators) with 60, 32 and 31 of the Yellow-band taxis, London-look taxis and of the Kenatco taxis, respectively.Cluster sampling technique was used to identify the various taxi ranks in the CoN while simple random sampling was used to identify the individual taxi and their respective operators for interviews .In data analysis the study employed the measures of the central tendency and correlation analysis. In hypotheses testing the results of correlation analysis between the number of trips made by taxis and the distance from the taxi locations indicates a correlation coefficient of -0.19 meaning that the role of taxi weakly decreases with an increase with distance from the Central Business District (CBD). The correlation analysis between the influence of hotels on the establishment of taxi ranks gives a high correlation coefficient of 0.97 indicating that hotels have a very strong influence on the location of taxi ranks more than other factors such as NCC designated parking bays for taxis only and, business premises and financial institutions, among other factors.On the other hand, the location of Kenya Taxi Cabs Association(KTCA) taxis in the various parts of the CoN have a significance relationship on the location of the Kenatco taxis giving a correlation coefficient of 0.68.The study found out that the use of taxis depends on a number of factors, namely; .i.roome levels, customer-tailored taxi services, as well as the comfortability, reliability and speed of taxis. The taxi industry not only helps to alleviate some transport problems in the CoN but also helps in supporting other economic sectors in the country such as tourism. Though the industry is faced by numerous problems such as acceptability of taxi services, traffic congestion and long delays, lack of enough parking spaces and poor road conditions in the country, it have some potential roles in fulfilling transportation needs in the CoN. The study recommends, interalia, the establishment of a taxi owners and operators cooperative savings and credit sodiety, equipping the taxis with two way radios enabling drivers to be in constant touch with the central controller on the taxis' positions due to the increased risks and dangers of vehicle, curtailing the use of old, faulty and broken down vehicles as well as encouraging the group-riding principle and aggressive advertisement.