Joining Kenya’s cashless payment modes earlier this year was Google’s Beba Card. The NFC-enabled card comes in handy at budgeting for the month, and in reducing the hustles that come with payment of fares by cash. Most of us were also secretly hoping that the card would, if not put an end to, at least provide an alternative on rainy days when touts are notorious for hiking fares. I have used the Beba Card for two months now, and can gladly report, save for a couple of glitches, the Beba Card or payment by card, might be what our transport system needs after all.

Nairobi is notorious for matatus that have failed to offer anything remotely close to efficient service. Other players have come in but failed miserably at bringing sanity in the routes. Promises to phase out the matatu have also repeatedly failed, possibly because the options provided have failed at one thing or the other.  The Smart Bus Company is one of these examples which used a plastic ticket, the SmartCard, to make payments. The bus service promised to bring change in the way commuters perceived public transport, bringing with it technology, comfort and convenience. Kenyans still stuck to the good-old matatus.  Some say that these other options have failed because Kenyans are held ransom by the chaotic matatus.  These matatus are like an abusive husband whose wife chooses to stay through the bloody blows.

In such a muddled industry, a promise of efficiency and convenience is highly welcome. The Beba Card is one of those services that promise a bit of sanity at least in payment of fares. So how does it work? Obtaining and replacing the Beba Card is free, but one has to load it to activate. They are currently available with agents around Kencom and other bus stations. Once the card is activated, one can use it to pay for bus fare. Unfortunately, the service is only limited to the Citi Hoppa and Metro bus services. The conductors have a NFC-enabled cell phone on which they tap the card to deduct payment. Immediately, the commuter gets a text message with the amount that has been deducted and the balance on the card.

For someone who is cautious about every shilling they spend, I find this service quite convenient. Say your monthly commute costs you KES 1500; your money is safe in a card. The temptation to buy a new shoe and tamper with the budget is not a thing you have to deal with. We budget for money yes, but there is never an assurance that you will not spend it on something else.

However, I want to believe that what Google rolled out is a pilot project and that plans are underway to flesh out a couple of areas. The demand is there, but if Google could make it a reliable mode of payment, then Nairobians are good to fly with it.  For starters, to have the service only for Citi Hoppa and Metro bus services is quite restrictive.  These bus companies do not operate on all routes, and the traffic in this city does not allow one any extra hours to wait for the next Citi Hoppa bus. Putting any money in the card is therefore just a matter of betting with chance.

It is quite obvious how most conductors make money. During the evenings for example, a good amount of the money goes to their pockets. Out of all the ten times I have used this card, I have had to argue with the conductor, sometimes even losing the battle. They like their money in cash. The card reduces the amount they pocket in a day.

There are times a tout has offered to reduce my fare by half if I pay by cash. While I respect this hustle of eating where they actually eat, if the system is to work, the card has to be accepted first as a mode of payment by the service providers. Otherwise, it loses its meaning. Before I put my money here, I want to know that as long as it is a Citi Hoppa, I can make payments by the card. It has to be reliable!

A sense of ownership is also lacking. Currently, if someone were to steal my card, they’d be able to use it to pay fare. There is no PIN or password in the payment process, just a tap on the NSF-enabled phone. I find the process of getting in touch with the Beba Customer Care to report the matter quite lengthy. The security of the card of course falls on my laps.  One advantage of cashless payment over cash is the security that comes with it. But this security is watered down in this kind of situation. A friend tells me that I should take the card like money. There is no ownership in money. It belongs to the hands that hold it at that very moment. But is it too much to ask?

The transport system might require a complete overhaul, and now might be too early for one to be optimistic or get excited about a payment card. But if one could be saved a bit of the hustle, why not?