Over half of drivers rely on ride-hailing for income, survey

Kenya's ride-hailing sector has evolved from a convenience technology into a critical employment pillar, with new survey data revealing that just over half of active drivers—53 percent—depend on the platform economy as their primary income source. This structural shift underscores a fundamental transformation in how urban workers across East Africa are generating livelihoods, with significant implications for investors seeking exposure to gig economy infrastructure, financial technology, and last-mile mobility solutions. The remaining 47 percent of drivers using ride-hailing as supplementary income paints a nuanced picture of economic diversification strategies among Kenya's working population. Rather than viewing these figures as binary categories, savvy investors should recognize them as indicators of a flexible labor market where traditional employment boundaries have blurred. This economic duality reflects broader regional trends where formal sector job creation has lagged behind population growth, compelling millions to seek alternative income streams. For European entrepreneurs evaluating Kenya's gig economy, these statistics carry profound market implications. The dominance of ride-hailing as a primary income source signals several critical insights. First, it demonstrates genuine demand elasticity—drivers are not experimenting with casual side gigs but making deliberate career choices around platform work. Second, it suggests a sustainable market size that can support