Daniel Gatura Founded Ace Mobility to Support Individuals with Disabilities
- Over 2% of Kenya's population lives with a disability, facing significant mobility challenges.
- Public transport in Nairobi is poorly equipped for wheelchair users, often leading to discomfort and attention.
- Daniel Gatura's Ace Mobility is addressing this gap, offering modified vehicles despite higher transport costs.
Kenya has approximately 900,000 individuals, or 2.2% of its population, living with disabilities, many of whom face challenges accessing public transport. Mwikali, a wheelchair user, highlights that Nairobi's public transport system lacks accommodations, often requiring assistance to board vehicles illegally designed for accessibility. In response to these unmet needs, entrepreneur Daniel Gatura launched Ace Mobility in 2021, providing modified vehicles with ramps for ease of access. While the service is more expensive than public transport, users like Mwikali find value in the dignity and direct service provided, contrasting sharply with the public transport experience. Disability advocate Lucy Nkatha calls for increased marketing and affordability for such inclusive services, emphasizing that policies must be backed by tangible implementation to support people with disabilities effectively.