Google launches motorcycle navigation in Kenya, a first for Africa :: Kenya

Google, announced Monday that it would offer motorcycle mode on Google Maps in Kenya, offering the voice navigation service to cyclists in Africa for the first time.

READ ALSO:

Safaricom among the 100 best employers in the world according to Forbes

Kenya's roads are full of motorcycle taxis, called boda bodas, which are much cheaper than car taxis.

Google, which is part of the American company Alphabet Inc., already provides this service in Asian countries, such as India.

"For more than a million Kenyans, boda bodas provide a convenient and affordable way to move and transport goods from one place to another," Google said in a statement.

"With the new Google Maps motorcycle mode, users across Kenya will now be able to get directions and navigation step-by-step to suggest more efficient routes," he said.

The streets of Kenya's towns and villages are often poorly marked and cluttered, preventing boda boda drivers from searching for customers when they hail them over the phone.

Avoid false news! Subscribe to the standard SMS service and receive updated and verified information as you go. Text the word & # 39; NEWS & # 39; at 22840

"What stops us from choosing some customers, is the lack of navigation. If the road does not have a clear name and you're new to the area, you get lost, "said Ben Chelule, a 24-year-old boda boda driver in Nairobi.

Google has also announced the launch of its Street View service in Kenya for the first time, allowing users to virtually explore 9,500 km of roads in cities such as Nairobi and holiday destinations such as Malindi on the coast.

The company has also set aside 100 million shillings ($ 992,000) to train Kenyan farmers digitally, he added.

READ ALSO:

Meet the woman behind Google Assistant

Google's director in Kenya, Charles Murito, said the company targeted farmers because it employed 40 percent of the population and accounted for one-third of gross domestic product (GDP).

"We want the power of technology to raise agriculture on a small scale. We hope that through this initiative we will see a positive impact on food security, job creation and GDP growth in Kenya, "he said.