Tech platform seeks to fix Kenya’s school transport gaps

Parents often worry about their children’s safety on the road, while schools struggle with accountability and the high cost of running transport fleets. St. Mary’s Academy in Regen is among the first schools to try a new solution. This term, its buses are operating under BusBuddy, a technology-driven service introduced by ride-hailing company Little. The platform allows parents to track trips in real time, receive notifications at pick-up and drop-off, and get updates in case of delays or emergencies. For schools, the platform generates automated reports, optimises routes to cut travel time, and removes the burden of managing drivers or maintaining vehicles. Little provides both professional drivers and school-ready buses. The rollout reflects a growing shift toward integrating technology into everyday education logistics, especially in urban areas like Nairobi, where traffic congestion and safety concerns are persistent. Analysts say the service could help set new standards for safety and accountability in a largely under-regulated space. “Every child deserves safe, reliable, and efficient transport,” said Mercy Okinyi, Little’s School Mobility Specialist. “BusBuddy brings technology and transport together to make this possible.” Education experts note that reliable transport is not just about convenience. Long or unsafe commutes can hurt punctuality, attendance, and even learning outcomes. By reducing uncertainty and boosting safety, services like BusBuddy may indirectly improve student performance. Little, already active in several African countries, views school transport as a growth opportunity in a continent with a fast-rising student population. If the Kenyan rollout proves effective, the model could be scaled to other cities facing similar challenges.