Uber, along with private and public sector stakeholders, this held the country’s first Tech for Safety Summit to explore Kenya’s public safety challenges and how technology can be used to build safer communities now and in the future.
The Summit featured speakers and panel discussions around the main themes of community safety, digital and social media safety and road safety. Top speakers included Philip Thigo, Technical Advisor for Data, Innovations and Open Government; Anne Manza, Lead Digital Content and Advertising Manager, Ma3route; Karimi Ruria, Senior Manager, Policy, Safaricom; and Dr Fernando Wangila, Senior Deputy Director, National Transport and Safety Authority.
Commitment plus technology lead to action and positive impact
The most pressing issues facing the country were brought to the fore including online, personal and commuter safety which contributed to the much needed safety conversation while highlighting the need to use current and new technology to help create a safer future for all Kenyans.
(TOP: Panelists during the Tech for Safety summit).
Uber’s Director and GM for sub-Saharan Africa, Alon Lits, emphasised why safety at Uber is a priority and highlighted the key safety features introduced since launch.
“At Uber, we lead with technology. With a global footprint and billions of trips, we are constantly listening to our users and using that feedback to continuously improve safety and the Uber experience, “ Alon said.
Panelists deliberated on the need to create an ecosystem that enables innovators to develop safety solutions and features. In addition, connectivity plays a critical role in accessing tools for personal and commuter safety.
RideCheck is one of Uber’s newly launched safety features for riders and drivers, which can detect anomalies, like an unexpected long stop, and proactively surfaces tools riders and drivers may need to get help. This feature is now rolling out for all riders and drivers across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
The Summit is a starting point for the collaborative effort required to address safety challenges faced by individuals and communities in Kenya.
Uber is available in 15 cities in sub-Saharan Africa (Cape Town, Durban, Joburg, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, East London, Nairobi, Mombasa, Lagos, Abuja, Benin City, Kampala, Accra, Kumasi and Dar es Salaam). Overall, the Uber network is available in over 600 cities in over 65 countries. To request a ride, users must download the free application for Android, iPhone, Blackberry 7.
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