In cities across Kenya, the daily school commute remains one of the most stressful and unpredictable parts of a parent’s day.
Amid crowded vehicles, informal transport arrangements, and limited supervision, many families feel anxious about whether their children will travel to and from school safely. In Nairobi, a local tech startup called Zidallie, founded by Nelly Alili, is quietly doing its bit to change this. Offering a comprehensive digital platform designed specifically for student transport, the business is redefining how Kenyan schools, parents, and drivers interact by fusing technology with trust and safety to protect the most vulnerable passengers - children.
Billed by its founder as an “Uber for schools,” Zidallie offers an integrated child safety and well-being platform. It connects vetted transport providers with families and schools while enabling live trip monitoring, emergency alerts, and real-time communication between schools, parents, and drivers.
“Growing up with a sister who had special needs, my family’s biggest challenge was simply getting her to school. The school had no transport, and finding a reliable option was a daily struggle. It often meant missed days and disrupted learning,” she says.
Ms Alili adds that the experience left a deep impression on her, as she saw how something as basic as transport could become a barrier to education. In early 2023, the matter resurfaced when her nephew began facing similar challenges, and it became clear that access to school transport is still a silent crisis for many families.
That was when the idea was born, to give parents and schools a reliable, tech-enabled solution for school mobility, ensuring children arrive safely, on time, and with less stress.
“With a capital of Sh30,000 from my savings, I secured the platform’s first school partnership. I then reinvested profits from early operations into developing a basic version of the app and growing our customer base. As the idea gained traction, we secured grant funding to support further growth,” she says.
Nelly Alili (right) and Wambui Kamunyu, one of the vetted divers of Zidallie.
Photo credit: Pool
Kenya’s school transport system has long been fragmented and informal. According to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), many school-going children travel in overcrowded vans, unlicensed matatus, or via ad hoc carpools operated without background checks or safety standards.
Parents frequently recount harrowing experiences like children squeezed into vehicles meant for fewer passengers, drivers speeding to meet tight schedules, and little to no communication during the trip. In some cases, parents only learn of delays or emergencies long after the fact.
This chaotic environment is especially worrying in urban centres, where traffic congestion and road safety risks exacerbate the problem. Yet, despite the growing demand for regulated and reliable school transport, few solutions have addressed the problem holistically.
“I knew there had to be a better way,” she says. “Parents deserve to know exactly who is driving their children when they board, and when they arrive safely. Schools should have tools to manage this efficiently, without the stress and guesswork.”
The platform also offers a multi-layered child safety platform that integrates driver verification, secure boarding protocols, real-time emergency alerts, and direct communication between parents, drivers, and school administrators.
This holistic approach ensures that children’s safety is prioritised at every stage of the journey. The service also operates a flexible transport model tailored to the varying needs of families and schools.
Its mixed fleet includes 4 to 7-seater vehicles for premium carpool rides in shared neighbourhoods, and larger buses for more affordable, dedicated school routes developed in collaboration with educational institutions.
Parents and school administrators can monitor trips in real-time, while a rigorous driver vetting and onboarding process ensures only trained, professional drivers are authorised to operate. To uphold high service standards, daily operational oversight is maintained across all routes.
“Each time a student boards or alights, the system logs the event with a timestamp, providing transparent updates to both parents and school officials. In the event of an emergency, such as an accident or mechanical issue, instant alerts are sent to all relevant parties, enabling a swift and coordinated response,” she explains.
A built-in communication feature enables seamless messaging among parents, drivers, and school staff, eliminating the confusion that often accompanies changes in schedule or route. Since its inception, the platform has supported the daily commutes of over 17,000 children across more than 15 schools in Nairobi.
Transport operators also benefit from the system. The digital monitoring encourages better driver accountability and adherence to safety guidelines, helping align with Kenya’s Transport Licensing Board requirements.
Kenya’s rapid urbanisation and expanding middle class have spurred demand for more reliable, secure student transportation, yet, regulatory frameworks remain in development, and enforcement on the ground is inconsistent. This leaves many children vulnerable, particularly in informal settlements and peri-urban areas where transport options are limited.
The government has introduced regulations aimed at improving public and school transport safety, including driver licensing requirements and vehicle inspections. However, enforcement gaps persist, and many small operators remain unregulated.
Zidallie’s technology supports these regulatory trends by offering a scalable, tech-driven compliance solution that can easily adapt as government mandates evolve.
Scaling a safety-first transport platform is no small feat. The company has faced several hurdles, including maintaining rigorous driver vetting as the fleet expands, integrating hardware across different vehicle types, and ensuring the service remains affordable for low-income families.
“Parents and schools are rightly cautious when it comes to children’s safety,” she says. “We had to prove ourselves operationally, invest in a reliable support team, and build software that is easy to use yet capable of handling real-world logistics.”
Sourcing and onboarding qualified drivers also proved difficult. To meet safety standards and ensure consistency, the team developed a thorough vetting process and invested heavily in driver education efforts that continue to require ongoing community engagement and support.
The company follows a strict and comprehensive driver vetting process to ensure the safety and reliability of its transport services. All drivers are required to submit a valid PSV license, a Certificate of Good Conduct, and preferably have prior experience in school transport.
“Their vehicles must also pass a thorough inspection. Each candidate undergoes in-person interviews and reference checks, followed by an orientation covering child safety and app usage,” she notes.
Before being cleared to operate, drivers must complete child safeguarding training, and customer service training, and participate in emergency response simulations, ensuring they are fully prepared to handle both daily routines and unexpected situations with professionalism and care.
Each child using Zidallie is covered under the platform’s passenger insurance policy, which includes medical expense coverage, accident and personal injury protection, and emergency medical evacuation when necessary. This insurance is integrated into the service, ensuring every child is safeguarded throughout their journey. The company is also exploring advanced features like AI-powered driver fatigue detection and optional onboard cameras to further enhance safety.
With Kenya’s growing digital infrastructure and increasing parental demand for trustworthy school transport, Zidallie’s future looks promising.
