Kenyan Startup Launches Car Rental App

Zuru, a Kenya startup has launched an app which enables car owners to rent their cars without using an agent.

Zuru Car Rental app enables car owners to upload images of their cars with the necessary details and set a rental price allowing users to book and pay through the app’s secure M-Pesa-based escrow service.

According to the company’s Chief Executive Officer Rawlings Otini, the startup aims to increase transparency within the car rental industry by applying an Airbnb model, additional security features, and insurance.

Customers need to install the app, look for the car of their choice and contact its owner for payment through the app. After payment, the money goes to an escrow account.

When the two meet and the customer is satisfied with the condition of the car, the client clicks the confirm button on the app and the money moves from the escrow account to the car owner’s M-Pesa account.

Zuru Rental App aims to be the platform that provides room for individuals, leasing firms and car manufacturers who want to hire out cars to reach customers cost-effectively.

The company started as a car hire agency linking car owners to clients, but decided to automate the process in order to easily scale the service to remote areas.

Zuru is active in Nairobi and Mombasa as it has already signed up a number of car hire companies who are using their app to list their vehicles.

At the moment, Zuru Car rental is available on the Google Play Store but the firm is working on the iOS version and a web platform.