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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.
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 Alphabet Company, 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 detailed navigation 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.
"What stops us from choosing some customers is the lack of navigation.If the road has no clear name and you are new to the area, you get lost," said Ben Chelule , 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 KES ($ 992,000) to train Kenyan farmers in digital skills, he added.
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 with this initiative we will see a positive impact on food security, job creation and GDP growth. in Kenya, "he said.
© Thomson Reuters 2018
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