G-Rani Wants to Formalise Kenya’s Informal Carpooling Culture

Why It Matters

By digitising peer‑to‑peer commuting, G‑rani could reduce traffic congestion and fuel expenses while offering a scalable, low‑cost alternative to ride‑hailing. Its model also tests a novel token‑based revenue approach in emerging mobility markets.

Key Takeaways

• 7,000 users signed up; 25% active
• Token model: KES 25 per token, 5 KES per 25 km
• No driver commissions; fares capped to cost‑sharing
• Pilot runs on two Nairobi routes, demand exceeds supply
• Pre‑seed round imminent to fund regional expansion

Pulse Analysis

Kenya’s rapid urbanisation has outpaced public‑transport capacity, leaving commuters to juggle expensive ride‑hailing services and overcrowded matatus. G‑rani taps into the existing habit of informal car‑pooling, offering a digital match‑making layer that streamlines route planning, seat allocation, and fare calculation. By anchoring pricing to token consumption, the platform sidesteps the commission‑heavy models of rivals, positioning itself as a cost‑effective, community‑driven alternative that resonates with price‑sensitive commuters.

The startup’s design choices—capping seats per trip, limiting fare adjustments, and refusing driver commissions—reinforce a shared‑expense ethos rather than a profit‑driven gig economy. This approach mitigates regulatory friction around commercial passenger insurance, as participants remain classified under private‑use arrangements. Safety features such as ID verification, selfie authentication, and proximity‑based rider matching further build trust, addressing common concerns that have hampered peer‑to‑peer mobility solutions in the region.

Looking ahead, G‑rani’s expansion to Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret and Nakuru could unlock significant network effects, especially as demand already outstrips the two pilot routes in Nairobi. The forthcoming pre‑seed round will likely fund technology upgrades, marketing, and insurance partnerships, enabling the startup to scale while preserving its low‑cost, low‑commission DNA. If successful, G‑rani may set a template for other African cities seeking sustainable, affordable mobility without the overhead of traditional ride‑hailing platforms.

G-rani wants to formalise Kenya’s informal carpooling culture

The Kenyan startup digitises everyday carpooling to cut commuting costs and congestion · By Victoria Fakiya · Senior Writer, Techpoint Digest · February 18, 2026

Every morning, Nairobi’s streets come alive with the hum of matatus, private cars, and ride‑hailing vehicles weaving through traffic. For most commuters, ride‑hailing is a luxury, and public transport is a daily exercise in perseverance.

Amid the chaos, some have found their own solution, carpooling with friends, family, or neighbours. It’s informal, but it provides a lifeline that gives the best of cost and convenience.

G‑rani, a Kenyan mobility startup, wants to turn that informal system into something smoother and more reliable. By helping people coordinate rides more seamlessly, the platform aims to make carpooling not just practical but a preferred way to get to work.

Co‑founder and CEO Eric Mutui first conceptualised G‑rani on a rainy morning in 2023. Unwilling to brave the state of the roads, he opted for a matatu instead.

“I saw many people driving by, and I thought this was a waste of resources when you have so many cars on the road with either one or two occupants,” he recalls. “From that day, I began designing the app on paper.”

Co‑founder and CMO Linnet Kitonga adds context. Kenya, like many African countries, has seen rapid urban population growth in recent years. With economic growth lagging behind, many workers are forced to live farther from their jobs. This has contributed to an informal carpooling network, especially among people who live close to each other.

G‑rani builds on this existing behaviour, optimising it for efficiency. Development on its mobile application began in 2024, with the public launch in June 2025. Since then, around 7,000 people have signed up, with 25 % actively using the platform today.

How G‑rani works

After signing up on G‑rani, users can choose to participate either as drivers or riders.

Drivers enter key trip details—starting location, destination, planned departure date and time, and the number of available seats. The platform allows each driver to register up to three vehicles. G‑rani calculates and recommends a fare based on the number of available seats and the length of the trip, providing a pricing framework that helps maintain fairness and consistency across the platform. Drivers may adjust the suggested fare, but the system keeps prices generally in line with standard carpooling practices.

Riders select their starting point, destination, travel date and time, and G‑rani presents a range of matching trip options. Once a trip is scheduled, any rider on the route can book a seat. Riders can also cancel trips, and the platform encourages early cancellations.

For payment, riders choose their preferred method upon reaching their destination; there are no hidden charges. The fare shown at booking is exactly what they pay at the end of the trip.

G‑rani also provides multiple ways for users to communicate and coordinate, including phone calls, SMS, and in‑app messaging, ensuring drivers and riders can confirm details, discuss preferences, or make last‑minute adjustments seamlessly.

Differentiating from the pack

G‑rani differs significantly from existing mobility solutions. Its pitch to users is that it is more affordable than ride‑hailing options and more comfortable than public transport. To achieve this, the platform seeks to control in‑app pricing.

Drivers have the flexibility to set their own rates, but Kitonga notes that the goal is not to achieve profitability for drivers. Prices typically reflect only a token that covers some of the driver’s expenses, much like a regular carpooling arrangement. G‑rani also does not charge drivers a commission.

Instead, the startup generates revenue through tokens, which users must purchase to access the platform. A token costs KES 25, and every 25 kilometres of travel consumes KES 5 worth of tokens. While it is a unique business model, Kitonga says the team is confident that it is both sustainable and scalable.

Keeping G‑rani affordable is central to the founders’ vision. Beyond guiding fare levels within the app, the team is also working on limiting the number of seats a driver can list for any given trip. The objective, Mutui explains, is to preserve the spirit of carpooling rather than turn the platform into a commercial ride‑hailing service.

By capping both fares and available seats, the company aims to discourage drivers from treating the app as a primary or even alternative income stream. Instead, it reinforces the idea of shared expenses among people already making similar journeys.

“If you want to use it as a side gig or main gig, we encourage you to keep your main gig. We’re very clear during onboarding that for drivers we help you save on fuel costs,” Kitonga says.

Optimising existing user behaviour

Optimising an existing habit doesn’t guarantee adoption. WhatsApp groups, for instance, allow neighbours to coordinate with high predictability—most people commute daily, so core groups rarely change.

This dynamic has shaped G‑rani’s approach but also makes selling to customers a bit tougher. Kitonga says the startup focuses on selling the platform’s benefits, particularly its flexibility. A driver who feels unwell or whose vehicle is in bad shape can upset group dynamics, forcing everyone to seek alternatives. With G‑rani, that problem is largely solved, as users can quickly find others nearby for their next trip.

Another challenge common to most marketplace businesses is that users often choose to transact offline after connecting. The team anticipates this.

“Our focus is making sure the core mechanics, i.e., pricing logic, seat visibility, accountability, and reputation, work best inside the platform. If the coordination layer is stronger in‑app than outside it, behaviour stays anchored,” Kitonga explains.

Safety and regulatory concerns

Safety is a key concern for many of G‑rani’s prospective users. The platform addresses this through several measures. All users must register with an active phone number and a government‑issued ID. Foreign visitors staying in the country for a short period can use an international passport. At sign‑up, the app does not accept photo uploads; only selfies are allowed. Additionally, trips are structured so that passengers live within five kilometres of one another, helping ensure closer, safer connections.

One concern G‑rani has encountered relates to insurance requirements. Under Kenya’s Insurance Act, private vehicle owners typically operate with third‑party cover, while vehicles used to carry passengers for commercial purposes are required to obtain comprehensive insurance. This distinction has raised questions among drivers, who worry that participating on the platform could expose them to higher insurance costs, particularly given that they are not using G‑rani to generate profit.

Kitonga maintains that the platform’s structure addresses this concern. Because G‑rani is designed around cost‑sharing rather than commercial gain and does not position drivers as profit‑making operators, participants remain within the bounds of private‑use arrangements.

Growth plans

G‑rani piloted operations in Nairobi and currently operates two active routes, while continuing to expand its network. According to Kitonga, demand already exceeds the number of routes. As a result, a key focus for the platform is expanding the number of routes to better meet user needs.

From June 2026, G‑rani plans to roll out its service to other Kenyan cities, including Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, and Nakuru. Its ambitions extend beyond Kenya, with plans to enter other countries in the region once it achieves significant traction at home. The platform is also responding to user feedback by adding longer trips to better accommodate commuter needs.

So far, G‑rani has held off on fundraising, focusing instead on validating its business model and testing demand before taking in external capital. However, Kitonga says the startup is now preparing to close its pre‑seed round in the near future, positioning itself to accelerate growth once the raise is complete.