After only about three days since the mandatory use of smart meters on taxi-motos in Kigali started, complaints have risen concerning the challenges the new system has showcased. Since Saturday August 15, commercial motorcycle riders in the city of Kigali were expected to have smart meters to determine how much a client pays, in addition to facilitating digital payments. The move was aimed at continuing to push for the reduction of cash-based payments, in a bid to adopt digital payments, and to modernize the taxi-moto sector. Allowing digital payment platforms like MTN Momo Pay, Airtel Money and Tap&Go cards; the system has now been days old in the city, and a number of people have tasted it: both passengers and riders. First, according to reactions from the public, the system already looks more expensive for longer journeys, “What I know is that things have changed face. For instance, I have traveled from Kimironko to Nyabugogo and paid Rwf1,500, yet before I used to pay Rwf1000,” said one Bonny Ndekezi. Such comments were common, as passengers, among other things, seemed to have their powers to bargain for lower prices on journeys were curtailed, Emile Nshimiyimana, another passenger said. “Where I used to pay Rwf1,000 for a taxi-moto ride in the morning, now I have been charged me Rwf2,000.” However, people who were traveling shorter distances of about two kilometers or slightly more were not affected. In fact, when smart meters were used, some of these travelers paid less than what they used to pay. “Where I have witnessed the meter working magic is when you are traveling from Nyabugogo to town. It is now Rwf300, yet before motorists would charge 500,” said one Jonathan Shimirwa. For motorists that spoke to this newspaper – they reported a difficult meter experience that was characterized by some hitches including internet connection issues, and passengers that did not want to board taxi-motos with meters – fearing higher prices. Jean Claude Nsayisenga, a motorist working in Nyamirambo said the meters’ connection has been the main challenge, “Yesterday I came here (at the offices of one of the companies that own the technology), and they told me they have connected the machine. But the connection keeps going off,” he said. He however admitted that not all challenges are to be blamed on the technology, since there are some motorists that are not using the machines in the correct way. Nzayisenga also commented on the rise in prices. With the meters, he said some passengers have showcased reluctance to take taxi-motos fearing to be charged more money. “With this machine, a journey from Nyamirambo-Kuryanyuma to Kwarubangura in town may cost Rwf700 or Rwf800. Before, some passengers would pay Rwf500,” he said. “When you tell a client that you are going to use the meter, they tell you they will not board,” he added. Jean Bosco Ntegeyiminsi, another rider lamented the time they have been spending making journeys to and from the offices of the tech companies to have their meters fixed. “You can use the meter on the first and second client, and on the third one, it jams. When you call the tech company, they tell you to approach their office so that they can fix it. You find that you may travel from Kabuga to Nyamirambo for this service. And when your meter has been fixed, it doesn’t take long before it gets issues again, and you have to come back to their offices,” he said. Three companies, namely AC Group, Pascal Technologies and Yego Moto were authorised by RURA to power the fleet of motorcycles with the technology. One of the companies The New Times Spoke to admitted that there were internet connections, and said these were fixed by the internet companies that are providing the connection. The company also said that motorists still have limited skills in using the technology, but there are efforts to keep teaching them in this regard. As of Friday August 14 at least 21,600 of the estimated 26,000 taxi-moto operators in Kigali had bought the taximeters, according to RURA.
