G-rani wants to formalise Kenya’s informal carpooling culture
G-rani is turning Kenya’s informal carpooling culture into a structured, affordable mobility option, helping commuters share rides and cut fuel costs.
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.
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How G-rani works
After signing up on G-rani, users can choose to participate either as drivers or riders. Drivers begin by entering key trip details, including their starting location and destination, the planned departure date and time, and the number of available seats. The pl...
