The Neo Kenya Mpya bus company has pledged to offer free bus rides to students from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).
The initiative, which is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) will see commuters who ply the Thika Superhighway route enjoy free rides, with JKUAT students being the first beneficiaries. Douglas Kuria, one of the bus company's directors, said the initiative is one of the company's strategies to clean the image of the matatu industry, which for many years has been viewed negatively by Kenyans.Kuria said the students will be getting free rides mostly on Thursdays between 3pm and 4pm, and on any other off-peak days to be determined by the company’s management at a later date. Students will only be required to produce their student ID to enjoy the free rides from the campus to the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD). "We intend to make travelling not only a business but an experience where we get to understand our customers. JKUAT students are our main clients, that is why we settled on them as the first beneficiaries of the programme," said Kuria as quoted by Kenyans.co.ke.100 students have so far benefited from the initiative which started last week.