Kenyan ride-hailing company improves mobility for people with disabilities

Ace Mobility, a Kenyan ride-hailing startup, is making transportation easier for people with disabilities. Founded by Daniel Gatura, who was inspired by his father’s wheelchair-bound mobility challenges, the company offers adapted vehicles to improve access to jobs, education, and public services. Given the gaps in public transportation, the service represents a critical step forward for the inclusion of people with reduced mobility.

Public transport barriers for the disabled
Mobility is a major challenge for people with disabilities in Kenya, a country where public transport is not adapted to their needs. Caroline Mwikali, an Ace Mobility user, explains the challenges they face: buses are often inaccessible, requiring passengers in wheelchairs to be lifted and placed in seats. A humiliating experience that illustrates the isolation of this population. Many people with disabilities feel excluded and discriminated against, as their specific needs are not taken into account in transport infrastructure.

Daniel Gatura, co-founder of Ace Mobility, has personally faced these challenges since his childhood. At the age of seven, his father suffered an accident that left him paraplegic. His family’s experience inspired Gatura to design a transportation service dedicated to those who, like his father, are often left behind. His company offers vehicles specially adapted to accommodate wheelchairs and ensure safe and dignified travel.

Improved access to economic opportunities
The impact of this initiative goes far beyond transportation. According to Gatura, allowing people with disabilities to move freely contributes to their social and economic inclusion. “Having a disability does not mean that you cannot earn a living or be useful to society,” he says. By offering this service, Ace Mobility helps people with reduced mobility access education and employment, paving the way for better life prospects.

Yet despite laws that promote inclusivity, such as those that guarantee access to public transport, these regulations are rarely implemented in practice. Sandra Nyawira, Disability Inclusion Advisor, stresses the importance of truly integrating these issues into public policies and their implementation.

Ace Mobility's impact on Kenyan society
Mobility is a fundamental right, and companies like Ace Mobility are pioneers in improving the lives of people with disabilities in Kenya. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), 2.2% of Kenya’s population lives with a disability, with 42% affected by mobility issues. For these people, Ace Mobility’s services represent a crucial step towards a more inclusive society.

The impact of this initiative is felt not only at the individual level, but also in the way it influences the perception of disability in general. Ace Mobility shows that practical and innovative solutions can transform the lives of often marginalized people, while raising awareness of the realities experienced by people with disabilities on a daily basis.