The life of a cab driver: A deadly hug, stash of weed and cheating girlfriend

On November 15, 2022, Rose Njeri picked up a well-dressed man at around 7pm at the junction heading into Naivasha town from Nairobi.

At first, it seemed like a normal cab ride, but soon after, she began feeling dizzy unaware that the man had faintly drugged her. 

 “Luckily, he only managed to steal my phone after I declined to follow him to a hotel in town,” she recalls.

Shaken by the incident, Njeri parked by the roadside and called her colleague using a borrowed phone who came and gave her water and later accompanied her to the police station to file a report. 

“That incident shook me. Since then, I don’t hug strangers. That man had forced a hug, and afterwards I started feeling the dizziness,” she narrates.

Despite the terrifying experience, Njeri, a soft-spoken yet resilient cab driver, continues to navigate the busy roads of Naivasha with unwavering determination. 

For the past four years, she’s been behind the wheel on a journey she never envisioned until her cousin encouraged her to try it. 

Having left her printing job during the COVID-19 pandemic and moving back home, driving became not just a job but a lifeline that pulled her out of depression. 

Starting off with a rental car, Njeri entered the male-dominated field with fear and uncertainty. 

“It wasn’t easy. I had a lot of fears,” she admits. But over time, and with the support of fellow drivers, she found her footing.

Njeri admits that challenges have been plenty, noting that some female passengers still doubt her capabilities. However, she has also received immense support from women who cheer her on. 

“There are those who look at me and wonder if I can really handle the job, but I’ve also met incredible women who remind me I belong here,” she says. 

One of the moments Njeri experienced great support from her colleagues was in March 2023, when she was involved in an accident at Kinale area.

“The car ahead braked suddenly, and another vehicle behind rammed into mine. Although my passenger was uninjured, my arm and leg got hurt,” she says.

Her fellow cab drivers stepped up, taking her to the hospital, covering her medical bills, and visiting her throughout her recovery.

But the job hasn’t been all gloom, there have been plenty of laughs and surprises along the way.

Njeri particularly remembers a time when a client asked her to help surprise his girlfriend, only to find her with another man. 

“On our way back, he actually asked me out. I turned him down,” she says laughing. 

Njeri has also had her fair share of strange things left behind by her clients, like the time she found a stash of weed in her car and, not knowing what it was, handed it over to her male colleagues.

She insists that her interactions with passengers remain one of the highlights of her job. 

Still, the job demands a careful balance noting she is strict about getting home on time and takes Sundays off to reset. 

“The rest is important though this job doesn’t allow for a strict schedule. You have to be flexible because loyal clients can call at any time,” Njeri notes. 

Although women are still few in the taxi business, Njeri is encouraged by the growing number joining the field. 

Her advice to other women; “Don’t be afraid. Respect yourself always, and most importantly, put God first.”