Nairobi Taxi Safety (My Advise as a Local)

When coming to Nairobi Kenya for the first time,  one of the things you will be worried about is how you will get around the city.   With the fear of the unknown gnawing at you, you must have asked yourself the question,  “Is it safe to take a taxi in Nairobi and its environs? “ I have lived in Kenya all my life and know a thing or two about getting around in the big cities.

Taking a taxi in Nairobi is safe as long as its from a reputable company or the taxi-hailing apps such as Uber Lyft or Taxify.  Popular Taxi Brands in Nairobi care a lot about their reputations so they carefully vet and supervise their drivers to ensure that their passengers are riding in taxis that are well-maintained with well-trained and pleasant-mannered drivers.

Let’s look into which taxis are safe to use and the things you need to do to ensure that you do not have any bad experiences when using a taxi in Nairobi. I will draw from my personal experiences to answer this question for you but I also did a bit of research to validate some of my points of view.

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Are Taxis in Nairobi Safe to use as a tourist?

Taxis are generally safe to use when arriving at and getting around Nairobi but you should take a few precautions when using them.

There are hundreds of different taxi operators in Nairobi and not all of them are reputable enough to trust them as a tourist. The only problem is that many taxis are operated by individuals who get their personal vehicles licensed as taxis then start getting customers.

I personally don’t feel like government registration of taxi drivers who want to enter into the industry is stringent enough and you will hear cases of rogue taxi drivers in Nairobi who treat their customers badly and leave them with a bad experience.

So if you are coming to Nairobi, you should be careful not to use any regular taxi since you never know whether you will find a good driver or have a good experience. Here is what you should do instead: Use a taxi company that has a large fleet of vehicles or use taxi-hailing apps like Uber or Bolt (Taxify) I discuss this in more detail below.

Safest taxi services in Nairobi

The safest taxi services in Nairobi are taxis by a company that has a fleet of vehicles and manages its drivers directly the next option is taking a taxi offered by taxi-hailing apps such as Uber Taxify and Lyft. Your next option is.

The reason I classify these two taxi services as safe is that they conduct the necessary background checks on their drivers and require high standards of vehicle maintenance to ensure the safety of their passengers. In addition to this, these companies have a lot to lose if something bad happens in their vehicles.  They, therefore take the necessary precautions to safeguard against the general risks that passengers will face when travelling in their vehicles.

You may never succeed in eliminating all the risks that come with using taxis in Kenya but by choosing the company’s above you will have mitigated most of them. 

Nairobi Taxis at night

When taking taxis at night in Nairobi you will need to take a few extra precautions to ensure that you stay safe. Many locations in Nairobi are unsafe for a foreigner at night and the kind of transport you choose will ensure that you stay safe even if you need to cross through some of these places to get to where you’re going. 

Here are a few precautions you should take when using a taxi at night in Nairobi

1. Avoid traveling at night where possible: one of the best ways of eliminating the risks that come with traveling at night is not getting out of your hotel or home when night falls. However, this may not always be feasible.
2. Use a taxi from a company rather than an individual. taxi companies in Kenya usually place more safeguards than individual car owners who drive their own taxis.
3. Ask the driver to wait until you have entered the gate to your destination before they drive off. This will be useful in case you are not able to access the building you were going to quickly. When the driver hangs around, You will not be left stranded in the dark by yourself.
4. Don’t carry a lot of valuables. It goes without saying that carrying a lot of valuables at night increases your chances of getting robbed. 
5. Sit in the back seat of the Taxi. This will give you more control in case of an incident.

Taxis in Nairobi’s Central Business District

Finding ordinary Taxis and Ubers is easy within the center of Nairobi. The regular Taxis are either painted Yellow or with a yellow stripe painted along the side of the vehicle. Ridesharing taxis are usually less conspicuous but sometimes will have the Uber logo on their sides.

Here are a few tips to stay safe in the CBD of Nairobi when using Taxis, 

1. Be careful where you get off the Taxi. County Council Officers are usually on the prowl for offenders and you may get in trouble with them for not using designated stops to alight and board the taxi. Ask your driver when it’s safe to exit the vehicle before doing so.
2. Keep your doors locked and windows rolled up when in traffic. Nairobi is infamous for snatch and grabs and most of the victims get their phones snatched from them in the busy Nairobi traffic. 

Taxi in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

When you arrive in Nairobi from abroad you will almost always land in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. This is Kenya’s main international airport and most long-haul flights terminate here. 

The safest way of getting from JKIA to your hotel once you arrive is by booking transport ahead of time with a tours and travels  company in Nairobi that offers transfers from the airport to your hotel. Booking ahead of time before leaving your home country would be most appropriate if you would like to use this means to get to the Airport.

The great thing about booking your transport ahead of time is that you reduce the risks and uncertainty that comes with looking for transport once you arrive in Kenya. You might not be able to completely eliminate all the risks but you will get the opportunity to control most of them this way. 

I’m planning to do an extensive review of the 10 best travel companies for transfers in Nairobi. Check this post out in a few weeks to see the link. 

Can I just get a regular taxi once I arrive in Nairobi?

It is an OK option for you if you don’t mind uncertainty but there will be dozens of taxis at the airport waiting to serve you once you arrive. Most of the taxis at Nairobi International (JKIA) will have conspicuous bright yellow branding which will distinguish them from regular vehicles.

Can’t I just use Uber when I Arrive?

There are many uber drivers in Nairobi and taking an uber from the airport to your hotel is a valid option. However I would not go for it since there is a degree of uncertainty in the kind of vehicle you will find and whether surge prices will be active when I arrive. You can use Uber once you settle down, but I would not recommend it for the first day you arrive in Kenya.

Taxis in the outskirts of Nairobi

There are fewer taxis in the outskirts of Nairobi than the Central Business District. You may have to wait longer and spend more if you need to travel outside of Nairobi’s metropolitan area using a taxi. Here are a few tips to stay safe when visiting Nairobi’s outskirts:

1. Use a taxi service or driver that you are familiar with. You may need to ask them to wait for you or come back for you after a while. You stand fewer chances of getting frustrated if you have built a relationship with your taxi driver.
2. Expect to pay more so carry extra cash in shillings. You may not find ATM machines easily in some of the outskirts of Nairobi. Carry cash with you to avoid altercations with the driver. Carrying the amount in Kenya Shillings will prevent you from overpaying the bill.

When taking a taxi in Nairobi is unsafe

It might be unsafe for you to take a taxi in Nairobi in the following situations:

1. If you cannot validate the identity of the driver of the taxi you are boarding and that the vehicle is not owned by a big-name taxi company. 
2. If you will be spending a lot of time travelling in and around Nairobi:  the fact that you will be using many  different drivers, sometimes from companies you may not know means that the possibility of encountering a bad experience is higher.
3. If you are traveling long distances from Nairobi.  When going to places like the Maasai Mara which is over 6 hours away from Nairobi,  a taxi would not be appropriate. The cost of the trip would really be high and the build of the vehicle would not be appropriate for the terrain you will be covering.  in addition to this, the driver will not be familiar with the route and this increases the risk of you getting into an accident. I wrote an article describing why you shouldn’t take a taxi to the Maasai Mara.   Check it out for more details.

In such situations you should consider getting a vehicle from a tours and travels company with a good reputation and good customer reviews. These companies come with drivers who are well-trained and used to dealing with tourists.   we are also very familiar with the route you will be taking and this reduces the possibility of getting in an accident.

A Final Word

As you prepare for your trip to Africa, I would like to recommend a few products that would help make your life easier. 

1. Information About Africa: I have created a YouTube channel that focuses on things about traveling to Africa that only Africans can tell you about. Check out the channel for insights about African culture and things you can do as a traveler to optimize your trip. You should also visit TripAdvisor forum posts (Here is the Kenya Forum) and ask questions about your particular situation. There are a lot of people who are happy to help you out. 
2. Choosing a Safari Company: I have written an extensive article on how to choose a safari Company. You can. Check it out before starting the process of searching for a safari company.
3. Safari Planning Services: If you’d rather leave the planning to an expert, I offer personalized safari planning services. I handle everything from helping you choose the right safari company, creating your custom itinerary, managing bookings, and even providing a packing list and reminders for important trip details. It’s like having a personal assistant dedicated to your trip, ensuring that everything runs smoothly, so you can focus on enjoying the adventure. Learn More in this article